While Republicans have accomplished much since 2016, due to the Senate's '60-vote threshold' we were not able to specifically prohibit taxpayers' dollars from going toward entities that provide abortion services in the recently passed spending bill. However, the good news is there is no specific language which directly funds Planned Parenthood. There is just funding provided for family planning (Title X). The reason Planned Parenthood received funding was the Obama Administration made a rule requiring family planning funds to go to agencies which would agree to refer for abortion. This precluded many other agencies which help women from receiving the funding and ensured Planned Parenthood received the bulk of the government funding. Well, that's about to change!

In April, I co-authored a letter with several Congressional members asking the Secretary of Health and Human Services to rewrite the regulations for funding of the Title X Family Planning Program so agencies do not have to refer for abortion and agencies which receive money do not have to be co-located in the same facility. This would preclude Planned Parenthood from receiving these funds. Thankfully, the agency responded and released proposals for new rules which do this! 

Abortion is not a form of family planning and no tax dollars should go to this agency. Based on a recent report from the Government Accountability Office, Planned Parenthood received $170 million in Title X funding between 2013 and 2015 (about $60 million a year). 
I am thankful we now have a pro-life president in the White House and a responsive Executive Administration with pro-life leaders in Health and Human Services who are willing to work with us to defund Planned Parenthood. It's high time we did this! 

I am also hopeful they will be responsive to another related effort I am leading in the House. Last week my colleagues and I authored a second letter urging Health and Human Services to investigate Planned Parenthood. In the letter we cite cases where Planned Parenthood performed abortions on sexually abused minors and failed to report abuse to authorities. The law requires that Title X recipients must comply with laws regarding abuse and Planned Parenthood is in violation of these laws. I am hopeful HHS will respond positively and take action needed to stop these atrocities.

As Chairwoman of the House Values Action Team, I have fought on behalf of families and the unborn. The money you earn should be used to support your homes and children; not abortion providers. Rest assured I will continue to champion the cause of life. 

You can help me in this effort by sending an immediate contribution of $100, $50, or $25 by going to www.vickyhartzler.com. I cannot do this alone and look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for partnering with me in the cause for life!