Joining forces with over 180 pro-life legislators from across the United States, Rep. Kathy L. Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest), who serves as the Republican chair of the House Health Committee, has called on Congress to halt federal funding to the abortion industry. The letter directed to key Republican leaders in Congress urges them to defund Planned Parenthood and similar organizations through budget reconciliation.
According to Rep. Rapp, Planned Parenthood received nearly $700 million in taxpayer funds last year while performing almost 400,000 abortions. The letter appeals to U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Sen. Mike Crapo, and Rep. Brett Guthrie to incorporate defunding measures into upcoming budget legislation.
The collective statement from pro-life lawmakers states: “As pro-life legislators from across the country who are members of the National Pro-Life Leaders Network, we are deeply concerned with the way that big abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood prey on unborn children and hurt women, all while receiving hundreds of millions of dollars from American taxpayers.” They argue for utilizing the budget reconciliation process to prevent federal Medicaid funds from reaching these organizations.
Rep. Rapp expressed her longstanding opposition to federal funding for Planned Parenthood: “Pro-life has always been a big issue for me,” she said. She advocates redirecting funds toward other healthcare resources available for women’s prenatal and maternal health needs.
The argument is supported by data indicating that non-abortion services provided by Planned Parenthood have declined significantly since 2010 despite increased taxpayer funding by 43%. Cancer screenings and other preventive services reportedly fell by more than 70%, while contraception services decreased by 39%. The Charlotte Lozier Institute’s report highlights that community health clinics outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities significantly in Pennsylvania.
Planned Parenthood has faced criticism over instances of inadequate care documented by major news outlets such as The New York Times.
