Bills
| 3.23.22

Should Planned Parenthood's Federal Funding go to Other Women’s Health Groups? (S. 1881)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is S. 1881?

(Updated March 23, 2018)

This bill would prohibit all federal funding — including grants — from being made available to Planned Parenthood and its affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, or clinics. Rather than providing grants or other assistance to Planned Parenthood, the federal government would make that funding available to other organizations that provide women’s healthcare services.

Nothing in this legislation would affect existing prohibitions on the federal funding of abortions — which would remain intact — or the total amount of federal funding for women’s healthcare services.

According to its 2013-14 Annual Report, Planned Parenthood provided 327,653 abortions, while receiving nearly $530 million or 46 percent of its funding from federal, state, and local level governments. A recent audit cited in The Hill stated that over $500 million of that funding comes from the federal government — though it stipulates that the funding cannot be used for abortion services.

This bill and similar legislation were introduced following the release of four secretly recorded videos which allege that Planned Parenthood sold the organs and body tissue of aborted fetuses. The group behind the videos has said that it will be releasing eight to ten more videos.

Argument in favor

As long as it offers abortion services, Planned Parenthood should not be receiving any federal funding. This ensures that grants and other financial assistance will still fund women’s health services elsewhere after Planned Parenthood is cut off.

Argument opposed

This bill is an overreaction to an underhanded smear campaign against Planned Parenthood. The organization provides valuable services to many low income families and individuals aside from abortions — and it does not operate illegally.

Impact

People who benefit from services at Planned Parenthood that are made possible through federal funding, people who object to Planned Parenthood’s federal funding, federal grant administrators, and Planned Parenthood.

Cost of S. 1881

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: The lead sponsor of this legislation — Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) — condemned the actions of Planned Parenthood personnel in the undercover videos:

“As a mother and grandmother, I find this footage of Planned Parenthood’s role in the harvesting of the organs of unborn babies morally reprehensible and vile. The American people are horrified by these videos as well. Simply put, this legislation ensures that funding for women’s health is protected and that taxpayer dollars will not go to Planned Parenthood.”

Currently this bill has 44 cosponsors in the Senate, and it was fast-tracked upon its introduction so that it bypassed the process of going through committee so that it could go directly to the Senate floor for a vote.


Of Note: While Planned Parenthood often finds itself in the news because of the abortion services they offer — abortions are just a fraction of what they do. From cancer screenings, to HIV tests, STI testing, to sex education, and family counseling, Planned Parenthood has a wide range of services.

In mid-July, 2015, undercover videos shot by the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) were released, claiming to show Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of the organs and tissue of aborted fetuses. CMP claims that the:

"criminal conspiracy to make money off of aborted baby parts reaches to the very highest levels of their organization. Elected officials must listen to the public outcry for Planned Parenthood to be held accountable to the law and for our tax dollars to stop underwriting this barbaric abortion business.”

Planned Parenthood has countered that tissue donations for scientific research do happen, but that reimbursements are only for their expenses. From CNN: "The group also says it helps people donate tissue "with full, appropriate consent from patients and under the highest  ethical and legal standards," according to a statement from spokesman Eric Ferrero. Later, Ferrero issued another statement saying:

"These outrageous claims are flat-out untrue, but that doesn't matter to politicians with a longstanding political agenda to ban abortion and defund Planned Parenthood. Women and families who make the decision to donate fetal tissue for lifesaving scientific research should be honored, not attacked and demeaned."


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Flickr user Dos Rayas)