Press Releases

WASHINGTON—Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) is leading efforts urging the Department of Health and Human Services to issue updated regulations for the Title X Family Planning Program. Those regulations will stop funding for programs where abortion is a method of family planning. Read more about the letter below.

House Republicans urge HHS to add abortion restrictions to family planning program
The Hill
4/12/18

House Republicans are pushing President Trump's health department to add abortion restrictions to the federal family planning grant program.

…

Members of the Republican Study Committee, a conservative caucus with 154 members, are urging the Department of Health and Human Services to ban organizations receiving Title X family planning money from referring patients for abortions. 

The members are also asking that Title X organizations be physically and financially separated from facilities that provide abortions. 

"The Title X Family Planning Program is in dire need of review and updated regulations that ensure program integrity with respect to elective abortion," members of the RSC wrote in a draft letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, obtained by The Hill.

The letter is being circulated for signatures among House Republicans by Reps. Ron Estes (Kan.), Vicky Hartzler (Mo.) and Chris Smith (N.J.)

…

The restrictions the RSC is asking for are similar to ones issued by the Reagan administration, which were upheld by the Supreme Court in 1991.

The regulations never went into effect because former President Clinton took office and rolled them back.

In a funding announcement for Title X issued in February, the Trump administration made changes that some argue would make it harder for Planned Parenthood and abortion providers to participate in the program and easier for faith-based organizations opposed to abortion.

…

Read the entire article here.