WASHINGTON, DC—Senator James Lankford (R-OK) introduced a bill on July 22 to end taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood for a year while they are investigated for possible illegal practices.
Specifically, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act, would set a one-year moratorium on Planned Parenthood funding from the government, unless the organization ceases performing abortions.
This would allow more federal dollars to go toward organizations such as community health centers, which serve low-income populations and provide direct health care to women across the country.
“The recent videos uncovering Planned Parenthood’s inhumane abortion practices have hit a nerve with many Americans,” said Lankford. “While the government investigates Planned Parenthood to determine if their practice of adapting their abortion procedures to harvest the organs of children violates federal law, they should not continue to receive taxpayer money. Planned Parenthood receives more than $500 million in taxpayer money every year.
“This is a sensitive topic for many, and I am aware our nation is divided on the issue of abortion, but it is common sense that we shouldn’t force taxpayers to assist the harvesting of human organs.”
On July 16, Lankford delivered a passionate speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate about Planned Parenthood. He also wrote an op-ed calling for Congress to end taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood and take up the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (S.1553) to ban abortions after five months.
