Lankford, Cloud Want to Stop Taxpayer Dollars from Supporting Abortion Providers

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today reintroduced the bicameral Women’s Public Health and Safety Act, which gives states the authority to exclude abortion providers, like Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid funds. Congressman Michael Cloud (TX-27) introduced the House version of the bill on January 5, 2021. Under current law, states are required to allow any qualified provider to participate in a state’s Medicaid system. A non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealed that Planned Parenthood received nearly 1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursements over a three year period, accounting for 81 percent of the abortion provider’s joint federal-state funding stream. 

Lankford was joined by Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Jim Risch (R- ID), John Barraso (R-WY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Thune (R-SD), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Boozman (R-AR), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tim Scott (R-SC), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Braun (R-IN), Rick Scott (R-FL) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) to introduce the Senate bill. 

“Abortion is not health care,” said Lankford. “It should not be controversial to say that taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay for abortion, and it shouldn’t be controversial for states to have the right to decide that Medicaid funds will not support an abortion provider’s bottom line. This bill is just one solution that we can advance to stand up for the self-evident fact that all children have value and—to ensure our government values every life, at every stage.”

“Abortion is not healthcare, yet Planned Parenthood has access to billions in state Medicaid funding. Nearly 60 percent of Americans object to taxpayer-funded abortions. Still, abortion providers have access to billions in state Medicaid dollars—which the taxpayer reimburses at 90 percent for family planning services. For too long, abortion providers have operated on the taxpayer’s dime, while performing elective abortions in the name of ‘healthcare.’ That’s why the first bill I introduced in the 117th Congress is this bill advocating for the preborn and their pregnant mothers in need. SenatorLankford and I are seeking to empower states to end federal subsidies for abortion providers and to ensure quality healthcare is made available to women.” 

Lankford recently received an “A+” rating on the Susan B. Anthony (SBA) List National Pro-Life Scorecard. Lankford is Chair of the Senate Values Action team and member of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, which advocates for issues including life and conscience protections. 

Thirty-five cosponsors joined Congressman Cloud’s bill. Original cosponsors incude: Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), Rick W. Allen (R-GA), Jim Baird (R-IN), Jim Banks (R-IN), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Ted Budd (R-NC), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), John Joyce (R-PA), Trent Kelly (R-MS), David Kustoff (R-TN), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Robert E Latta (R-OH), Alex X. Mooney (R-WV), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Ralph Norman (R-SC), David Rouzer (R-NC), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), W. Gregory Steube (R-FL), Tom Tiffany (R-WI), William R. Timmons (R-SC), Michael Waltz (R-FL), Randy K. Weber (R-TX), Roger Williams (R-TX), David McKinley (R-WV), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Garret Graves (R-LA), Ron Wright (R-TX), and Ashley Hinson (R-IA).

The text of the bill is here.

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