Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced a pair of bills that would require each U.S. state to provide information about the number of abortions that occur within them and end federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
“We must fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, and nowhere is that more true than when it comes to defending the most vulnerable among us – the unborn,” Ernst said in a statement. “Today, and every day, I am proud to stand up for life. We should be focused on funding women’s health instead of fueling the abortion-on-demand agenda championed by radical left-wing groups.”
Under the Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act, title XIX of the Social Security Act and the Public Health Service Act would be amended to “improve the reporting of abortion data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
“[T]here is not a single abortion data point publicly reported for all 50 States and the District of Columbia,” the bill says. “Even more alarming, 3 States that together account for 15 percent of the United States population of women of childbearing age do not report any abortion data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” The bill notes that “accurate statistical data regarding abortion and those who survive abortion attempts is critical to public health and policy analysis.”
The Protect Funding for Women’s Health Care Act would “prohibit Federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.”
Health services available to women through state and county health departments, community health centers, hospitals, and physicians offices include “relevant diagnostic laboratory and radiology services, well-child care, prenatal and postpartum care, immunization, family planning services including contraception, sexually transmitted disease testing, cervical and breast cancer screenings, and referrals.”
“All funds no longer available to Planned Parenthood Federation of America will continue to be made available to other eligible entities to provide women’s health care services,” the bill says.
