Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce issued this statement following House passage of H.R. 3495, the Women's Public Health and Safety Act:
"This summer, gruesome and despicable acts performed by Planned Parenthood were exposed in undercover videos released by the Center for Medical Progress. Since then, the House has responded to calls from the American people for a halt to these horrific practices," stated Pearce. "The House's actions include today's passage of the Women's Public Health and Safety Act."
In New Mexico, there are only 6 Planned Parenthood facilities. Conversely, there are 165 federally qualified health clinics that provide genuine care to New Mexican families all across the state - including in rural and underserved areas. Defunding Planned Parenthood at the federal level, or in an individual state, as H.R. 3495 authorizes, would benefit New Mexican families and women by providing greater funding to these other, more accessible clinics.
Pearce continued: "Today's vote ensures New Mexico, and every state, the freedom and flexibility to determine whether or not Medicaid funds should be granted to instate clinics that provide abortions, instead of allowing the federal government to uniformly dictate how New Mexico spends its own funds. By allowing states to have maximum flexibility in their Medicaid programs, we can ensure that New Mexicans have a voice in how and where their taxpayer dollars are spent."
"Each state has the right to act on behalf of its citizens, as does the federal government. Unfortunately, despite a number of attempts from around the country, states have found it nearly impossible to cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood; some states were even sued. Americans absolutely should not be coerced into funding organizations that violate their core beliefs and values.
"On a related note, the House is using every possible investigative tool - hearings, interviews, document requests and subpoenas -- to hold the President and Planned Parenthood accountable for the inhumane practices exposed this summer. Women and children are not experimental or expendable objects and American taxpayers should not be forced to fund Planned Parenthood's atrocities."
Background: The recent undercover videos of Planned Parenthood document depraved practices that shock the conscience. It is horrifying to watch their abortionists and staff discuss the harvesting and sale of body parts of aborted babies and to see them pick over dismembered arms and legs, hearts, kidneys and livers that can be sold. These barbaric practices are not only inhumane; partial birth abortion; altering abortion procedures on women to harvest baby parts, and selling organs for profit - also implicate serious crimes under federal law and some state codes.
New Mexico has 165 federally qualified community health providers and rural clinics that can provide poor and underserved women increased access to healthcare.