Sens. Cruz, Blackburn, Cassidy, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Close Title X Loopholes on Abortion Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joined Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and colleagues in introducing the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act . This legislation would ban federal Title X family planning grants from going to any entity, including Planned Parenthood, that performs abortions or funds abortion providers. Sen. Cruz said , “Organizations that perform abortions should not receive any taxpayer dollars. I have long fought to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood and to ensure that Title X family planning grants are not awarded to entities that perform abortions or fund abortion providers. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation.” Sen. Blackburn said, “Taxpayers should not have to spend a penny on abortions. The Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act would protect life and stop federal funds from going to entities that perform abortions by closing loopholes in federal law.” Sen. Cassidy said, “Louisiana families want their tax dollars to support families, not abortion businesses that kill unborn babies and hurt mothers. I’m proud to co-lead this bill to end a policy that subsidizes Planned Parenthood on the taxpayers’ dime.” This legislation is co-sponsored by Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and Kevin Cramer (N.D.). Read the bill text here . BACKGROUND The Title X Family Planning Program is intended to assist low-income women with family planning services. Unfortunately, this program has a history of subsidizing massive organizations that engage in abortion activities, such as Planned Parenthood. Since 1976, federal law has prohibited the use of federal funds for abortions. Section 1008 of the Public Health Service Act explicitly states that Title X funds “shall not be used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning,” but Clinton-era rules require all grantees to refer patients for abortions and allow abortion facilities to be co-located within Title X clinics. As a result, Planned Parenthood clinics that receive federal family planning funds can share the same facility, staff, and waiting room as abortion clinics, and often refer women for on-site abortions. The Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act would: Amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from providing federal family-planning grants to entities that perform abortions, or provide funds to entities that perform abortions; Strip the abortion giant Planned Parenthood and other Title X clinics of taxpayer funding that ought to go to comprehensive healthcare alternatives instead; Require that HHS provide an annual report to Congress that includes: information on grantees who perform abortions under the exceptions; and a list of entities to which grant funds are made available. This legislation is supported by Susan B Anthony Pro-Life America, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, March for Life Action, National Right to Life Committee, Americans United for Life, and Students for Life Action.