Scott, Lankford, Colleagues Call for Investigation into CARES Dollars Going to Planned Parenthood

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), in writing a letter to Inspector General (IG) for the Department of Health and Human Services Christi Grimm regarding more than $20 million in Provider Relief Funds (PRF) issued to Planned Parenthood under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The senators asked the IG to review the funds to “determine whether the organization provided false or misleading information to obtain access to PRF funds.”

“Congress intentionally designed the CARES Act so that no federal funding appropriated through the bill could be used on abortion… This organization did not possess a financial need for funds distributed through the PRF, nor should taxpayer dollars be given toward the provision of abortions,” the members wrote. “We request that you review the applications submitted by Planned Parenthood to determine whether the organization provided false or misleading information to obtain access to PRF funds. If it is discovered that Planned Parenthood intentionally falsified information on its applications, we ask that you submit a criminal or civil referral to the US Department of Justice.”

U.S. Representative Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) led the letter in the U.S. House of Representatives.

You can read the full letter here.