150 Pro-Life Leaders Urge Congress to Defund Planned Parenthood

A coalition of over 150 pro-life leaders from various states is urging Congress to cut off taxpayer funding to Planned Parenthood, aiming to leverage the current Republican majority to achieve this goal. They emphasize that Planned Parenthood received approximately $700 million in federal funding in the past year, which they argue is an unjust allocation of taxpayer dollars given the organization's reported involvement in nearly 400,000 abortions. This push coincides with ongoing budget reconciliation discussions, where pro-life advocates see a unique opportunity to act decisively compared to previous unsuccessful attempts in 2015 and 2017. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, described the current political environment as a 'perfect storm' for the pro-life movement, asserting that abortion is the leading cause of death in America. The coalition's letter cites a public mandate for change following recent elections and recent scandals involving Planned Parenthood facilities as further justification for defunding. The efforts align with broader goals to restrict public funding for abortion providers and highlight concerns over health care practices within the organization.