Sen. Scott, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Defund Planned Parenthood, Safeguard Women’s Health Funding

Washington – Following Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) announcement of a working group, today U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) joined Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and 22 cosponsors to introduced legislation protecting women’s health and defunding Planned Parenthood, S.1881.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stated that the Senate will vote on this legislation before departing for an extended state work period next month.

In addition to defunding Planned Parenthood, this legislation ensures the preservation of Federal funding for women’s health services including relevant diagnostic laboratory and radiology services, well-child care, prenatal and postpartum care, immunization, family planning services including contraception, sexually transmitted disease testing, cervical and breast cancer screenings, and referrals.

Funds no longer available to Planned Parenthood will continue to be offered to other eligible entities to provide such women’s health care services.

“All life is precious, and to see it treated so callously by Planned Parenthood should make every American’s heart ache,” said Senator Scott. “Taxpayer dollars should not be funding anything remotely related to such activities, and I am proud to join Senator Ernst and my other colleagues as we take this necessary step towards defunding Planned Parenthood.”

“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,” said Senator Ernst. “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.”

About the Legislation:

Prohibits federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America or any of its affiliate organizations.

• Protects federal funding for health services for women, including diagnostic laboratory and radiology services, well-child care, prenatal and postnatal care, immunizations, cervical and breast cancer screenings and more.
• Ensures there is no reduction in overall federal funding available to support women’s health

Cosponsors of the bill include Senators John Barrasso (WY), Roy Blunt (MO), John Boozman (AR), Richard Burr (NC) Dan Coats (IN), Tom Cotton (AR) John Cornyn (TX), Ted Cruz (TX), Steve Daines (MT), Mike Enzi (WY), Deb Fischer (NE), James Inhofe (OK), Johnny Isakson (GA), Ron Johnson (WI), James Lankford (OK), John McCain (AZ) Mitch McConnell (KY), Jerry Moran (KS), Rand Paul (KY), David Perdue (GA), Pat Roberts (KS), Ben Sasse (NE), and John Thune (SD).