FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 30, 2025

 Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

Dr. Rand Paul, Sen. Jim Risch Introduce Bill to Expand Prohibitions on Use of Foreign Assistance Funding for Abortions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Jim Risch (R-ID), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Rick Scott (R-FL), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE), introduced the American Values Act to permanently enact and expand existing prohibitions on the use of U.S. foreign assistance to pay for the performance or promotion of abortion services overseas.

“No American taxpayer should be forced to fund abortions overseas,” said Dr. Paul. “It’s bad enough that Washington spends recklessly at home, but using taxpayer dollars to promote abortion abroad is an insult to both life and fiscal responsibility. This legislation is a necessary step towards reigning wasteful spending and standing for the fundamental right to life.”

“American foreign aid should always be used in a way that is in line with American values- and that means that no foreign assistance funds should ever be used to perform or promote abortion services,” said Senator Risch. “I’m proud to introduce the American Values Act with my colleagues to hold our government accountable to this standard and protect the sanctity of life across the globe.”  

If enacted, this legislation would:

• Clarify that existing prohibitions on the use of U.S. foreign assistance to pay for the performance or promotion of abortions, forced sterilizations, or biomedical research relating to abortions or forced sterilizations shall apply to all assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act;
• Permanently enact long-standing appropriations restrictions on the use of foreign assistance funds to lobby for or against abortion;
• Permanently enact long-standing appropriations restrictions on the provision of foreign assistance funds to organizations that support or participate in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization; and
• Permanently enact long-standing appropriations restrictions on the use of funds made available to the Peace Corps to pay for abortions.

Full text of the American Values Act can be found HERE.

A one-pager on the American Values Act can be found HERE.

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You can read the bill in its entirety HERE, and watch Dr. Paul’s full message on the 2025 March for Life HERE.

The Defund Planned Parenthood Act is supported by the following organizations:

“Senator Rand Paul’s Defund Planned Parenthood Act is a critical step in the direction of protecting taxpayer dollars from supporting the abortion industry, specifically, Planned Parenthood, our nation’s largest abortion provider. We at March for Life Action will continue to work towards enacting legislation like this bill that is in the best interest of women’s health, protects the most vulnerable unborn child, and seeks to support mother and child,” said Jeanne F. Mancini, President of March for Life Action.

“Sen. Rand Paul’s bill to prohibit federal funding of Planned Parenthood represents a significant effort to enact President Trump’s stated agenda of reducing the role of the federal government on the issue of abortion. As long as taxpayers underwrite the nation’s largest abortion vendor, abortion is federal. In mandates and money, the federal government has acted with prejudice against pro-life people and for abortion. In a completely partisan way, Planned Parenthood also has worked to defeat Republicans to replace them with radical pro-abortion Democrats, who have ensured that the checks keep coming. America’s healthcare dollars should be invested in care that takes care of every patient, in and outside of the womb, and this bill also makes no exceptions for Planned Parenthood, as they should be debarred and defunded as bad actors in the healthcare space.  Students for Life Action supports the Defund Planned Parenthood Act and will score both the votes and co-sponsorship of the measure,” said Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life of America & Students for Life Action.

“Planned Parenthood is one of our nation’s largest purveyors of abortion and cross-sex hormones. They do not deserve any taxpayer dollars. Thank you to Senator Paul for leading the effort in defunding Planned Parenthood,” said Ryan T. Anderson, PhD, President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

“Americans rejected Democrats’ extremist abortion-on-demand and radical gender ideology agenda at the ballot box. The Defund Planned Parenthood Act is an opportunity for conservatives to finally deliver on their decade-old promise to stop taxpayer dollars from funding abortion, and now dangerous experimental medical procedures on minors. Heritage Action commends Senator Paul for spearheading the fight to deliver real results to protect unborn babies, confused children, and their mothers. Senators who believe in the sanctity of life and defending the vulnerable should support and enact this bill,” said Janae Stracke, Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy at Heritage Action.

“Americans, regardless of their position on abortion, should welcome the end of federal funding of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood has helped fuel the rapid increase in medicalizing gender-confused young people, often resulting in lasting physical damage.  Independent Women’s Features told the story of Cristina Hineman, a detransitioner who is suing Planned Parenthood for failing her so badly in handling her treatment. American taxpayers should not be forced to support this.  Thank you Senator Paul for advancing this important legislation,” said Carrie Lukas, Vice President of Independent Women’s Voice.

“Americans should not be forced to fund an organization that profits from killing unborn children. Killing America’s future does nothing to advance the interest of the American people. We are grateful to Dr. Paul for his work to protect American dollars from being used to kill innocent unborn babies,” said Mary Szoch, Director for the Center of Human Dignity, Family Research Council.

“Not a cent of taxpayer dollars should be going to Planned Parenthood. They don’t care about women’s healthcare; they care about making money. And they do it through the murder of innocent babies and preying on vulnerable, confused children. It’s long past time to end the abominable lie that Planned Parenthood needs federal funds in order to function. It’s time to prove that America is a nation that truly cares about women by defunding this organization that has taken advantage of them for decades,” said Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America. 

“Senator Rand Paul continues to champion constitutional policies with his vital bill to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Taxpayers should not be compelled to fund over $1.5 billion annually for an organization that performs nearly 400,000 abortions each year,” said George Landrith, President of Frontiers of Freedom Institute. “Despite its claims of providing comprehensive healthcare, Planned Parenthood has seen rising abortion numbers and declining other health services. The Hyde Amendment once protected taxpayers from funding abortions—it’s time to reinstate this sensible safeguard. Thank you, Senator Paul, for your principled leadership!”

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