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SALT LAKE CITY — All four U.S. House members from Utah voted Friday to cut off taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood for one year while Congress investigates its activities.
H.R. 3134 would bar federal funds to the organization and its affiliates unless they certify that they won't perform abortions. The bill, which passed 241-187, would redirect money to about 13,500 women's clinics around the country.
Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, said he has always opposed federal dollars going to Planned Parenthood.
"The recent revelations from the undercover videos and the absolute disregard for human life shown in them should be troubling to all of us," he said in a statement. "It's high time to cut off these funds and let the House investigations proceed."
Earlier this year, the Center for Medical Progress released videos in which high-level Planned Parenthood staff members reportedly discussed the sale of body parts from aborted fetuses.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, headed by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and the House Judiciary and House Energy and Commerce committees are investigating questions raised by the videos.
After the House debate, Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, responded in a video to what she called a "pitiful" defense of Planned Parenthood by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif.
"He said this is a ploy by the caucus of angry white men," she said. "I don't know if you've noticed but I am not angry, I am not white and I am not a man. What I am is disappointed."
Related:
Gov. Herbert instructs state to stop distributing federal funds to Planned Parenthood
Gov. Gary Herbert instructed state agencies to stop distributing federal funds to the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah in a decision that took state lawmakers and Planned Parenthood officials by surprise. (Photo: KSL File)Congress, she said, has the opportunity to "stop the torturing of babies, stop the harvesting of their body parts while they're still alive."
During the floor debate, Farr said, "What you're doing is taking this angry white man's caucus on the Republican side" that for years has tried to make it a political issue and wants to penalize Planned Parenthood.
"It's about access to health care, and particularly health care for women," he said. "Stop beating up on women."
Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, said the videos sickened him.
"As a father of six and grandfather of seven, I have witnessed the miracle of birth and value the sanctity of life. I've been terribly disturbed by the Planned Parenthood videos and reports of the organization's inhumane practices," he said in a statement.
The bill provides an exception for an abortion if the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, or in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder or injury or life-threatening illness.
Stewart urged the Senate to take up the Planned Parenthood funding issue, which could become a sticking point in federal budget discussions.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said last week he could not in good conscience vote for a spending bill that includes funding for Planned Parenthood. Failure to pass a continuing resolution to keep government running by Oct. 1 would result in a partial federal shutdown.
