Report: Abortion provider earned almost $2B from taxpayers
Report Reveals Billions in Federal Funding for Abortion Providers
A new report has exposed that Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers and advocacy groups received nearly $2 billion in federal funding from 2019 to 2021. The Government Accountability Office’s findings, shared by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), highlight that organizations supporting legal abortion obtained at least $1.89 billion in public funds from federal and state governments.
Outrage Over Taxpayer Dollars Supporting Abortion Providers
“It is appalling that big abortion providers are continuing to receive billions of dollars in federal taxpayer funding,” expressed Blackburn, who commissioned the report alongside Smith and Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO). She further criticized the fact that while small businesses struggled during the pandemic, Planned Parenthood unlawfully received over $90 million from the Paycheck Protection Program, which was intended to assist small businesses.
The request for the GAO report was signed by 142 senators and representatives in January of last year. During the period from 2019 to 2021, Planned Parenthood and its affiliates performed 1.11 million abortions, receiving approximately $1.78 billion in taxpayer money. These funds included reimbursements from government programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, as well as state-level public funding.
Planned Parenthood’s funding primarily came from Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP, totaling $1.53 billion during the specified years. Additionally, the organization received $148.5 million in federal grants and cooperative agreements, along with $90.41 million from the Paycheck Protection Program, which was intended for small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. However, Planned Parenthood and its affiliates employ over 16,000 individuals nationwide.
Under the Biden administration, funding for Planned Parenthood specifically increased from $5.71 million to $27.06 million through the Department of Health and Human Services, marking a 373% rise. This occurred after the administration rescinded the Trump-era Protect Life Rule for Title X programs, which prohibited federal funding recipients from referring women to abortion providers.
Other organizations advocating for legal abortion, such as FPA Women’s Health, American Women’s Services, All Women’s Health Center, and Whole Woman’s Health, also received tax funds amounting to $107.74 million from 2019 to 2021. The report also revealed that taxpayers funded abortion globally, with the International Planned Parenthood Federation receiving $2.03 million and MSI Reproductive Choices receiving $1.35 million.
Strong Opposition to Taxpayer Funding for Abortion
Rep. Chris Smith, co-chairman of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, expressed his concern over the GAO report’s findings. “GAO found that Planned Parenthood received a whopping $1.78 billion between 2019-2021 while the nation was struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic,” he stated. Smith emphasized that this included $90.14 million in forgivable loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, funds that could have supported struggling small businesses.
Former President Donald Trump implemented the “Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance” rule, which aimed to prevent U.S. taxpayer money from supporting foreign organizations that promote abortion. This rule allowed global health organizations to choose between giving up their abortion operations and receiving federal grants or continuing the procedure and forfeiting the funding, which amounted to approximately $8.8 billion. However, President Joe Biden repealed the policy shortly after taking office.
A Marist survey conducted earlier this year revealed that 60% of the public opposes or strongly opposes taxpayer funding for abortions domestically, while 78% feel the same way about funding abortions abroad. Blackburn concluded her statement by affirming her commitment to protecting the unborn and ending taxpayer-funded support for the abortion industry.
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Why are pro-life advocates outraged by the increased funding for organizations that provide or advocate for abortion services?
Rs. The increased funding has sparked outrage among pro-life advocates, who argue that taxpayer dollars should not be used to support organizations that provide or advocate for abortion services.
The report also revealed that other abortion providers and advocacy groups, such as Marie Stopes International, received federal funding during the same period. Marie Stopes International, an international organization that provides sexual and reproductive healthcare services, received $12.6 million in federal grants and cooperative agreements. This funding raises concerns among pro-life advocates who argue that taxpayer dollars should not be used to support organizations that operate internationally and perform abortions.
Opponents of abortion argue that this level of federal funding not only supports the provision of abortion services but also helps sustain the overall operations of these organizations, including their lobbying efforts and political activities. They claim that this constitutes an unfair use of taxpayer dollars, especially for those who hold pro-life beliefs.
Supporters of abortion rights, on the other hand, argue that federal funding for abortion providers is essential in order to ensure that women have access to safe and legal reproductive healthcare services. They maintain that the government has a responsibility to support organizations like Planned Parenthood that provide a wide range of healthcare services, including contraception, STD testing, cancer screenings, and prenatal care. They argue that limiting or removing funding for these organizations would disproportionately impact low-income women and communities that rely on their services.
While this report has revealed the significant amount of federal funding that abortion providers and advocacy groups receive, it is important to note that the issue of government funding for abortion is highly divisive and politically charged. Both sides of the debate will likely continue to argue their cases, and the allocation of federal funding for these organizations will likely remain a contentious issue in American politics.
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