Republicans Block Sen. Rand Paul's Amendment to Defund Planned Parenthood

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 23, 2018
Contact: Press@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the U.S. Senate continues to consider the minibus appropriations package for Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) will speak on the Senate floor regarding Senate Republican leadership blocking his amendment that would stop taxpayer dollars from going to Planned Parenthood and other entities that perform abortions, and he will call on leadership to allow a vote.

Dr. Paul’s amendment would not prevent health care providers that do not perform abortions from continuing to receive federal funding for women’s health services, and affected entities that stop performing abortions would be eligible to have their funding restored.

You can watch Dr. Paul speak live HERE, and you can find background information on Dr. Paul’s amendment below:

BACKGROUND

•   This amendment would make sure that federal tax dollars are not going to organizations that perform abortions, like Planned Parenthood.
•   Funds for these services would continue to be provided to entities that are eligible and not performing abortions, such as community health centers.
•   There are over 10,000 community health center facilities across the country, providing health services to more than 27 million patients – compared with 2.4 million who use Planned Parenthood services.
•   Though Planned Parenthood advocates claim that women receive mammograms at its facilities, none of the organization’s 650 facilities actually offer mammograms.
•   According to Planned Parenthood’s own report for 2016-2017, it performed 321,384 abortions, averaging out to a rate of 881 per day, or one every 98 seconds.
•   According to GAO, PPFA affiliates receive nearly $60 million per year in family planning grants and over $400 million per year in Medicaid reimbursements. Overall, Planned Parenthood received $543.7 million in federal funding, or nearly 40% of PP’s revenue.
•   In total, Planned Parenthood is a $1.5 billion taxpayer-funded abortion corporation.
•   Last year, Planned Parenthood spent $75.6 million on “movement building” alone, spending $128.3 million on a combination of political activities. In addition, it spent $85 million fundraising.

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