Friday, November 09, 2007

Senators Brownback and Vittier call for end to federal funds for abortions

BROWNBACK CALLS FOR SUSPENSION OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ABORTIONS WASHINGTON :
U.S. Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and David Vitter(R-LA) today sent a letter to Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human ServicesAppropriations, and Representative David Obey, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, calling for the suspension of federal funding of abortion.
In addition to Brownback and Vitter, the following senators signedthe letter: Senators Jim Bunning (R-KY), John Barrasso (R-WY),Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), JamesInhofe (R-OK), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Trent Lott (R-MS), Mel Martinez(R-FL), Pat Roberts (R-KS), and John Thune (R-SD). Following is full text of the letter. "We write to urge you to suspend funding in all future Labor, Healthand Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriationsbills for organizations that promote abortion. While an amendment tothis effect was not adopted in the U.S. Senate last month, we believerecent findings warrant such a suspension pending furtherinvestigation."
One recipient of such funding is the Planned Parenthood Federation of America which receives more than $300 million in taxpayer fundingeach year. According to a 107-count complaint filed in Kansas' Johnson County District Court two weeks ago, Planned Parenthood isaccused of performing illegal late-term abortions in violation ofstate law. It is also accused of falsifying documents and failing tocomply with medical reporting requirements."Unfortunately this is just one example of a troubling trend. Too often we hear about negligent medical practice or inadequate reporting from abortion clinics that lack sufficient oversight. One of the many reasons to withhold federal funding from groups thatpromote abortion are these troubling accusations of negligent medical practice. Most recently, amendment S.A.3330 to H.R.3043, the Labor,Health and Human Services Appropriations bill would have correctedthis problem by denying federal funding to groups that promoteabortion.
"While amendment S.A.3330 was not adopted by the Senate, we believe an amendment to that effect should be reconsidered in the futuregiven this troubling evidence of wrongdoing and neglectful medicalpractice. While we continue to have a rigorous debate in this countryabout abortion, we should be able to come to some fundamental agreements. We should not use tax dollars to subsidize abortion clinics " particularly when there are serious concerns regarding their compliance with state law and medical standards.
Brownback is a member of the Senate Judiciary and Appropriations Committees.
Sam Brownback United States Senator -
Kansas 303 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6521

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