The U.S. House of Representatives voted 240-185 to adopt an amendment that would cut off federal funds to Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and 102 named PPFA affiliates. The amendment was offered by Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN).
Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest abortion provider, reporting more than 324,000 abortions in 2008. They have recently mandated that all of their regional affiliates must provide abortions by the end of 2013. PPFA has received much media attention lately, as one of their New Jersey abortion clinic managers was caught on tape aiding an undercover individual (who was posing as a pimp) to obtain birth control, STD testing, and abortions for his under-age prostitutes.
PPFA’s annual budget is about $1.1 billion, one-third of which comes from various government funding ($88.7 million from the federal government in 2008). The Pence Amendment would disqualify PPFA and its named affiliates from receiving any type of federal funds. The Pence Amendment was added to H.R. 1, a measure to fund all federal agencies through September 30, 2011. Next, the bill will be considered in the U.S. Senate.
