House Speaker Paul Ryan Promises Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood: ‘Our position has not changed’

By Peter LaBarbera
Life Site News

Newly re-elected House Speaker Paul Ryan says Republicans will put forth a bill defunding Planned Parenthood for President Trump to sign as it did for President Obama.

At Ryan’s press briefing Thursday, CNS News asked the Speaker if he would submit a bill “that prohibits any federal funds from going to any Planned Parenthood affiliate until Planned Parenthood stops doing abortions.”

Ryan answered:

“We’ve already shown what we believe with respect to funding Planned Parenthood. We put a bill on President Obama’s desk in reconciliation. Our position has not changed."

That bill sent to Obama would have defunded Planned Parenthood for one year, rather than permanently. After the press briefing, CNS asked Ryan's staff to clarify whether Republicans intend to pass a one year defunding bill, or a permanent one, but staff directed them to Ryan's previous comment.

As CNS reports, the House bill vetoed by Obama in January stipulated that “for one year, this bill restricts the availability of federal funding to a state for payments to an entity (e.g., Planned Parenthood Federation of America) that:

• is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization; is an essential community provider primarily engaged in family planning services and reproductive health
• provides for abortions other than abortions in cases of rape or incest, or where a physical condition endangers a woman's life unless an abortion is performed
• and received a total of more than $350 million under Medicaid in FY2014, including payments to affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, or clinics.”

The bill would have increased funding for women’s community health centers that do not perform abortions. The House failed to override Obama’s veto in February.

Trump promises abortion-funding ban

Various pro-life organizations are expecting the full and permanent repeal of federal funds for Planned Parenthood. In a September letter to pro-life leaders, Trump promised to 

”[defund] Planned Parenthood as long as they continue to perform abortions, and reallocating their funding to community health centers that provide comprehensive healthcare for women.”

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