Defunding of Planned Parenthood proposed...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- U.S. Congressman Mike Pence issued the following statement today after introducing the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act. The bill currently has 122 cosponsors.

"It is morally wrong to end an unborn human life by abortion. It is also morally wrong to take the taxpayer dollars of millions of pro-life Americans and use them to promote abortion at home or abroad.

"Last year, Planned Parenthood received more than $363 million in revenue from government grants and contracts. During that same time, they performed an unprecedented 324,008 abortions.

"The largest abortion provider in America should not also be the largest recipient of federal funding under Title X.

"The Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act will prevent any family planning funds under Title X from going to Planned Parenthood or other organizations that perform abortions. It will ensure that abortion providers are not being subsidized with federal tax dollars.

"I am grateful for the support of more than 122 original co-sponsors of this important legislation and look forward to voting to enact the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act."

BACKGROUND: The Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act would not reduce the total amount of funds available for family planning; it would simply block funding to organizations that perform abortions. Title X is the only federal grant program dedicated solely to providing comprehensive family planning and related preventative health services, and there are a number of federally funded clinics across the nation that offer beneficial services including patient counseling, breast cancer screenings, HIV prevention education and more.

Last year alone, according to Planned Parenthood's own annual report, it received more than $363 million in revenue from government grants and contracts. During that same time frame, they performed an unprecedented 324,008 abortions, a 5.8 percent increase from the previous year. The nation's largest abortion provider is also under investigation in multiple states including Indiana, California, Alabama and Tennessee for allegations of fraudulent use of Title X funding.