Press Releases

WASHINGTON—Today, the Trump administration indicated new Title X regulations would be forthcoming. Last month, Congressman Ron Estes (R-KS-4) led efforts to secure updated regulations, along with U.S. Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ-04), Diane Black (R-TN-06), and Vicky Hartzler (R-MO-04). The members were joined by 149 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar requesting that the Department move swiftly to issue new Title X regulations that restore program integrity and remove abortion from the family planning program. In response to today’s announcement the members issued the following statements:

“Today is a great victory for life and the millions of people who have spoken loud and clear about not wanting federal tax dollars used for abortions,” said Congressman Estes. “I want to thank my colleagues for joining our efforts to secure these needed regulations and thank the Trump administration for heeding our call. These new regulations will save lives and ensure Title X funding supports actual family planning services instead of abortion providers.”

“President Trump’s new Protect Life Rule at long last reinstates principles first put forward under the Reagan Administration, and upheld by the Supreme Court nearly three decades ago. The Reagan Rule reinstated by the current Administration finally creates a bright line of separation between abortion and family planning. Abortion is not family planning – in sharp contrast, the violence of abortion wounds families,” said Congressman Smith.

“The Protect Life Rule is about choice. Planned Parenthood can stop performing abortions or stop receiving family planning funding. For too long the abortion giant has utilized Title X funding—up to $60 million annually—to further their core mission of destroying unborn human life. The 1970 program is in dire need of reform, and today’s actions lead the way in redirecting the same amount of taxpayer dollars from the abortion industry to actual health care providers. It’s time our hard-earned tax dollars go to actually helping women, not enabling the taking of innocent life.

"I am heartened that the Trump Administration is putting forward new regulations to clear up any misunderstanding: abortion is not family planning, and the abortion industry should not be the recipient of taxpayer funded family planning programs. This proposed rule will distinguish between health care facilities that provide family planning services and clinics whose business models promote, facilitate, and perform the inhumane act of abortion,” said Congresswoman Hartzler.

“The integrity of taxpayer dollars should never be in question, let alone specified funding for Title X Family Planning Program recipients. I’m proud to stand with the Trump Administration to ensure that our money is funding actual family planning programs, and not the abortion industry,” said Congresswoman Black. “Abortion is not women’s healthcare or family planning — it's family destruction.”


Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas’ 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the House Committee on Homeland Security.