Planned Parenthood has lost its federal funding for a full year after a 241-187 vote in the House of Representatives on September 18.
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Nearly all Democrats voted against both bills, which are almost certain to be blocked by the Democratic minority in the Senate.
Senate Republicans are also planning to vote Tuesday to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The bills were the latest in the House’s response to a series of videos that opponents of Planned Parenthood say show that the organization is making money off the trafficking of human fetal tissue and organs. Longstanding Federal policy already prohibits the use of Federal funds for abortions, except in cases of rape or incest or when the life of a woman would be endangered.
Representative Charlie Dent, of Pennsylvania said, “It’s imperative that we don’t shut the government down for any reason, regardless of one’s feeling on planned parenthood, whether you’re for them or against them really isn’t the point”.
Congress adjourned for the weekend with an October . 1 government shutdown deadline fast approaching and no clear plan from Republican leaders for extending funding for federal agencies.
Although most House conservatives voted for the measures, they are unhappy with the legislation, saying it doesn’t go far enough in defunding Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood has no business receiving money from American taxpayers.
Jennifer Aulwes, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota said the measure and its approval in the House are “outrageous”.
The GOP outrage is sparked by secretly recorded videos showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing how to take tissue from aborted fetuses for medical research.
Planned Parenthood gets around $450 million yearly in federal payments, mostly Medicaid reimbursements for handling low-income patients.
A significant majority of Republicans would support Boehner if he presses for a temporary funding bill disentangled from the dispute over Planned Parenthood.
“It’s about access to health care, and particularly health care for women“, he said. She said she’s anxious that Republican attempts to de-fund the organization will lead to a government shutdown.
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Meantime, President Obama called the republican strategy “a game of chicken with our economy that we can not accept”. Planned Parenthood has been providing health care to men and women for over 100 years, and 2.7 million men and women visit a clinic each year.
