American Family Association (AFA) is calling for a stand-alone bill to remove government funding from Planned Parenthood. Doing so will provide greater assurance that legislation defunding Planned Parenthood will make it to President Trump's desk.

AFA is aware that there are multiple ways to defund Planned Parenthood using the legislative process. The House passed the healthcare repeal bill (HR 1628) containing language to defund Planned Parenthood. AFA supported that bill because of the pro-life provision, but the Senate has already publicly rejected this bill.

Republican leaders in Congress have promised to withhold taxpayer funding from Planned Parenthood, America's largest abortion provider. Now is the time for Republicans to make good on their promise by passing the Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2017 (H.R. 354). This includes your Congressman, who serves on the Health Subcommittee that determines if Planned Parenthood is defunded or not.

Send an email urging your Congressman to tell Chairman Burgess to add H.R. 354 to the agenda in committee and to vote "yes" to defund Planned Parenthood.

This bill was introduced on January 6 in the House of Representatives. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) referred the bill to the Energy and Commerce Committee chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) who referred the bill to the Health Subcommittee.

Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) is the chairman of the Health Subcommittee. He has the authority to set the agenda to determine which bills are brought up for a vote. So far, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2017 is just gathering dust in Rep. Burgess' committee.

Rep. Burgess should be quick to take up the bill because in 2015 every Republican member of the Health subcommittee voted for the same type bill (H.R. 3134) defunding Planned Parenthood. So, the chairman has no excuse. Furthermore, this bill also passed the House by a margin of 241-187. Furthermore, it passed the Senate by a 52-47 vote before President Obama vetoed it. The difference now is that President Trump has said he will sign it!

The Republican Party Platform (P.13) has a very strong, pro-life position stating:

"We oppose the use of public funds to perform or promote abortion or to fund organizations, like Planned Parenthood, so long as they provide or refer for elective abortions or sell fetal body parts rather than provide healthcare." (Emphasis added.)

Planned Parenthood receives roughly $500 million in taxpayer dollars each year. Roughly 86% of these funds are provided through Medicaid reimbursements. The remaining 14% is provided through Title X family planning grants. All of this money is authorized by Congress.

It is time to pass a stand-alone bill that defunds Planned Parenthood. Tell members of the Health Subcommittee to take up the defund Planned Parenthood bill and pass it.

Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House. There are no more excuses.

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