Cornyn Introduces Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood

This bill will ensure taxpayer dollars are used to fund womens health not subsidize a political organization that perpetuates abhorrent practices. Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. The blatant disregard for precious human life depicted in these videos is shocking and we must stand up to protect our most vulnerable" said Sen. John Cornyn who along with 24 other Senators introduced legislation to protect women and the unborn by defunding Planned Parenthood. The legislation was crafted by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) Rand Paul (R-KY) and James Lankford (R-OK) following the release of a third video earlier this week that exposed Planned Parenthood senior executives discussing the harvesting of the organs of unborn babies. The Senate will vote on the bill early next week.    In addition to Sen. Cornyn other cosponsors of S. 1881 include:

1. John Barrasso (WY)
2. Roy Blunt (MO)
3. John Boozman (AR)
4. Richard Burr (NC)
5. Dan Coats (IN)
6. Tom Cotton (AR)
7. Ted Cruz (TX)
8. Steve Daines (MT)
9. Mike Enzi (WY)
10. Deb Fischer (NE)
11. James Inhofe (OK)
12. Johnny Isakson (GA)
13. Ron Johnson (WI)
14. John McCain (AZ)
15. Mitch McConnell (KY)
16. Jerry Moran (KS)
17. David Perdue (GA)
18. Pat Roberts (KS)
19. Ben Sasse (NE)
20. Tim Scott (SC) and
21. John Thune (SD)

The legislation S. 1881:

• Prohibits federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America or any of its affiliate organizations.
• In addition to defunding Planned Parenthood the bill ensures the preservation of Federal funding for womens health services including:
  • Relevant diagnostic laboratory & radiology services
  • Well-child care
  • Prenatal & postpartum care
  • Immunization
  • Family planning services including contraception
  • Sexually transmitted disease testing
  • Cervical and breast cancer screenings and referrals and
  • Ensures there is no reduction in overall federal funding available to support womens health

After a second video had been released last week depicting Planned Parenthood executives discussing the harvesting of the organs of unborn babies Cornyn joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and the 48 other Senators in sending a letter to Health & Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell calling for a department investigation questing the medical ethics and practices of Planned Parenthood.

This video raises a number of questions about the practices of the organization including whether they are in compliance with federal laws regulating both the use of fetal tissue and partial-birth abortions" the Senators wrote. Congress is undertaking efforts to address these questions and we expect the Department of Health & Human Services to fully cooperate with ensuing investigations including future requests for information and hearing participation.

The full text of the letter sent to Sylvia Mathews Burwell Secretary U.S. Department of Health & Human Services can be found here. Click here to read the text of S. 1881.