[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 234]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      REINTRODUCTION OF TITLE X ABORTION PROVIDER PROHIBITION ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, the largest abortion provider in America 
should not also be the largest recipient of Federal funding under title 
X.
  Today, with the support of more than 120 of my colleagues, I 
introduced the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act. I am grateful 
for the support of my colleagues within this House and the support of 
millions of Americans who long to see this Congress take this decisive 
action on behalf of our values.
  The Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act would deny any family 
planning funds under title X from going to Planned Parenthood or other 
organizations that perform abortions. It would ensure that abortion 
providers are not subsidized with Federal tax dollars.
  Now, let me say, to be very clear, Mr. Speaker, this legislation does 
not cut one penny from title X family planning funding. I applaud much 
of the important work that is done at title X clinics across this 
country: breast cancer screening, HIV protection, education, 
counseling, pregnancy diagnosis. This legislation simply prevents 
family planning funding from aiding organizations that profit from the 
abortion industry.
  Federal funding should reflect the priorities and the values of a 
majority of the American people. Whatever people think about abortion 
across this country since Roe v. Wade, survey after survey has shown 
that an overwhelming majority of Americans oppose the use of taxpayer 
dollars to support, subsidize, or promote abortion at home or abroad. 
It is for that reason that I would assume that most Americans would be 
surprised, if not shocked, to learn that the largest abortion provider 
in America is also the largest recipient of Federal funding under title 
X. But that is most certainly the case.
  According to their own annual report, Planned Parenthood received 
more than $363 million in government funding in 2009 alone. During that 
time, they performed an unprecedented 324,008 abortions, a 
heartbreaking statistic. Planned Parenthood of America continues to 
receive a greater amount of Federal funding each year while 
simultaneously taking over an increasing share of the devastating 
abortion market in this country.
  Now, look, Planned Parenthood and its defenders will claim that the 
money they have received from the government has not been used to fund 
abortions, but that is only technically true. Current law prohibits the 
use of title X family planning funds ``in programs where abortion is a 
method of family planning.'' Therein lies the loophole.
  While title X money cannot directly be used to fund abortions, common 
sense says there is no question that taxpayer dollars received by 
Planned Parenthood are used to cover allowed expenses, like overhead, 
operational costs, thus freeing up other money for the clinics that do 
provide abortion. And in many of our largest cities, title X clinics 
run by Planned Parenthood are literally just steps away from abortion 
clinics operated by Planned Parenthood, many times in the same 
building.
  This legislation would close that loophole that has forced millions 
of pro-life Americans to subsidize the Nation's leading abortion 
provider sustaining and underwriting this nefarious trade.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Title X Abortion Provider 
Prohibition Act. I urge our new majority to bring this legislation 
forward with all deliberative speed.
  Let me say again. The largest abortion provider in America should not 
also be the largest recipient of Federal funding under title X.
  For the sake of American taxpayers, for the sake of the important 
work being done at title X clinics across this country, and, most 
importantly, for the sake of the defenseless unborn and vulnerable 
young women who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy, we must enact 
the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act and end the day of 
taxpayer support for these organizations.

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