“The winds of change are blowing across America. Now is the time to defund Planned Parenthood.” – Family Research Council President Tony Perkins
Over the past 10 years, Planned Parenthood has killed over 3,400,000 babies in the womb. Between 2019-2021 alone, the abortion giant received over $2 billion in federal taxpayer funding to continue pursuing their twisted agenda. As Congress reconsiders the budget, pro-life leaders from across the nation are taking a stand, saying, “Enough is enough.” It’s time to defund Big Abortion.
Last week, SD Family Voice, along with dozens of other pro-life groups, traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with Representative Dusty Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. In total, over 300 conservative activists from 39 states gathered at the Capitol in a concerted effort to push for defunding the Big Abortion industry, which is led by Planned Parenthood. The day prior, over 150 pro-life groups from around the nation, representing all 50 states, signed a letter encouraging legislators to stop the flow of American tax dollars toward the abortion industry.
The message is clear: Americans do not want their tax dollars contributing to the murder of innocent babies in the womb. In fact, a recent poll from the Knights of Columbus revealed that 57% of Americans, including 33% of Democrats, oppose or strongly oppose using tax dollars to fund abortions.
“Planned Parenthood reports raking in a total of $699.3 million, or almost $2 million per day, from American taxpayers in 2023 alone. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood’s most recent annual report boasted that they performed nearly 393,000 abortions – a 40% market share of the abortion industry in the U.S.,” the letter reads. “Women and children deserve better care. In an era of reexamining federal funding, Congress should start by cutting funding for Big Abortion in the upcoming reconciliation bill.”
This issue was pushed to the forefront of the national abortion conversation after a recent report from the New York Times revealed the horrifying conditions at Planned Parenthood facilities. The article went so far as to say the organization is “in crisis.” The disturbing incidents include multiple botched abortions, nerve damage from incorrectly inserted birth control implants, and a sewage leak in a patient recovery room. Instead of addressing the serious safety concerns at their facilities, Planned Parenthood put nearly $70 million toward defeating pro-life candidates in local, state, and federal elections. Actions speak louder than words. Planned Parenthood continues to prioritize its political agenda over the safety and well-being of women and girls.
Sadly, not only is Planned Parenthood responsible for the lion’s share of abortions in the United States, they are also the self-declared “second-largest provider of hormone therapy” in the nation. When the federal government issues funding to Planned Parenthood, our tax dollars are not only used to cover the cost of abortion, they’re also used to pay for adults and children to “transition genders” through dangerous hormone treatments.
Nearly 450 of Planned Parenthood’s facilities offer transgender services – that’s more than the number of locations that offer abortions. Some of those locations provide “gender affirming care” treatments (which we know are deeply damaging both physically and mentally) to children as young as 16 years old. Every year, the number of “gender affirming care” treatments Planned Parenthood provides continues to grow.
The House and Senate have several bills on the table that would cut funding for Big Abortion, but the primary defunding opportunity is through the budget reconciliation, a process in which the House and Senate collaborate to decide on what programs and organizations to cut and fund. With a Republican trifecta in the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives, the time for action is now.
