Defund Parenthood Act was introduced on 1st June 2017, and it is sponsored by Representative, Diane Black. “This bill prohibits, for a one-year period, the availability of federal funds for any purpose to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., or any of its affiliates or clinics, unless they certify that the affiliates and clinics will not perform, and will not provide any funds to any other entity that performs, an abortion during such period” (Defund H.R. 354). However, the restriction provided by this bill cannot be employed in cases related to rape, incest, or where the pregnancy endangers the life of the expectant mother. Defund Parenthood Act is currently being debated in a House subcommittee referred to as Energy and Commerce after being “referred to the Subcommittee on Health on 25th January 2017” (Defund H.R. 354). Over a quarter of the lawmakers in the House of Representative support this bill. Some of the key figures that have come out openly to support this bill include Vice President Pence who affirmed that Planned Parenthood would be defunded after Congress has voted to repeal and replace Obamacare (Cunningham 2017). Similarly, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy noted that this healthcare bill would do the appropriate thing by diverting the taxpayer’s money from funding abortions to providing Medicaid support to those in need. ‘SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser’ also made the same argument noting that the taxpayer’s dollars will be channeled to health centers associated with providing “comprehensive primary care in addition to preventive care to women” (Cunningham 2017).
The findings of the poll held to determine the views of the Americans showed that 62 percent and 31 percent of the Americans support and oppose Defund of Planned Parenthood respectively (Bailey 2017). The poll by Quinnipiac University also showed that more women than men opposed the plan of Defunding Planned Parenthood. By party, 93 percent of the Democrats and 69 percent of independents also oppose the bill. A total of 70% of respondents interviewed recommended the application of the 1973 Roe v. Wade judgment that considered abortion as one of the woman’s rights (Bailey 2017). However, I disagree with those who recommended Roe v. Wade decision in opposing the Defund Parenthood Act. If women are allowed to decide on what to do with their unborn babies, the U.S. will become a rotting den for the fetus. Many women will avoid using contraceptives and embark on a business of getting rid of the “unwanted infant” (Bailey 2017). The Defund Parenthood Act will regulate the behavior of women and organizations that support the murdering of unborn babies.
Argument
The Defund Parenthood Act will regulate the behavior of women as well as organizations that support the murdering of unborn babies. The findings by the National Right to Life Educational Trust Fund (NRLETF) show that the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) made $1.1 billion as revenue in the fiscal year that ended on June 30th, 2009. The average cost per every woman that sought for abortion in that year was $491. Thus, the income for abortion in that year would have been approximately $149.9 million (National Right to Life 2018). Similarly, NRLETF found that 329,445 abortions were done at clinics associated with the PPFA in 2010. When compared with the number of abortions performed in 2008, (1,212,400) it is evident that Planned Parenthood is responsible for over a quarter of abortions performed in the U.S. Although statistics show that abortion has significantly dropped in the U.S. since 1990, abortions in PPFA clinics rose by 255 percent between 1990 and 2010 (National Right to Life 2018). PPFA clinics are claimed not only to advertise, but also to perform all types of abortions including those that have reached the second trimester. With over 329,445 abortions, PPFA collected over $148.6 as its revenue from just abortion in 2010. The events of 2010 show that PPFA was not associated with providing prenatal care (National Right to Life 2018). When an expectant mother entered in any PPFA clinic in that year, there was a very high chance for that woman to receive abortion instead of prenatal care. As a result, the number of adoptions at Planned Parenthood dropped significantly in 2010 (National Right to Life 2018). The PPFA annual report of 2008 indicated only 168 cases of infertility, and none of the infertility issues were addressed in 2009 and 2010. Based on these findings, it is apparent that Planned Parenthood does not provide ‘parenthood’ services. Thus, defunding such an organization will promote life since it will be forced to provide comprehensive care to the public.
Planned Parenthood tempts teens to have abortions. Approximately 17 percent of the abortions done in the U.S. are by teens. The website of this organization encourages teens to seek abortion services from their clinics without consent from anybody (plannedparenthood.org). It also informs teens that abortion is a safe way of terminating an unwanted pregnancy and they have diverse ways of ending a pregnancy. Moreover, Planned Parenthood encourages women and girls to have an abortion by claiming that “deciding to have an abortion doesn’t mean you don’t want or love children” (plannedparenthood.org). According to this organization, a person can have an abortion if she thinks she is not ready for the parental responsibility. Planned Parenthood is the leading pusher for abortion pills. PPFA annual report of 2003-04 showed that clinics affiliated to this organization performed 95,000 chemical abortions in 2003 (National Right to Life 2018). The organization was offering abortion services in its 49 clinics despite the fact that these clinics were previously not involved in offering abortions. Following the death of two women in 2006 as a result of taking abortion pill administered by Planned Parenthood, the organization changed the administration method for the abortion pills to continue with the abortion business (Russell A4). Based on these findings it is apparent that Planned Parenthood is the leading advocate for abortion in the U.S. It is also one of the organizations that are fostering the passing of laws that instill the power of deciding what to do with the unborn on women. The organization encourages women to fight for their right arguing that “a woman has a right to decide on what to do with her body” (plannedparenthood.org). Such calls and misinformation encourage women to be murderers. For this to stop, Planned Parenthood has to be defunded.
Counter-Argument
The call for defunding Planned Parenthood through the Defund Planned Parenthood act is a misconception of the activities done by this organization. Planned Parenthood is associated with educating women and young girls about sexual life and sexual activities besides creating awareness in them about sexually transmitted diseases (North 2016). The organization is also involved in providing birth control to women in addition to “providing free testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections” (North 2016). Moreover, the organization offers home visits to mothers who have given birth recently to help curb infant mortality. All these activities are successful because of the funds the organization gets from the government. Thus, defunding Planned Parenthood equates to stop of the provision of these services. The organization cannot afford to offer sex education to teens in the youth justice system (North 2016). As a result, many teenagers will become pregnant and have babies at a tender age. Similarly, the lack of sexual education on sexually transmitted diseases will lead to many teenagers contracting these diseases. Moreover, many parents will have unplanned pregnancies which will affect their lives negatively. These activities by the Planned Parenthood need to be considered when debating the Planned Parenthood bill. They need to be given priority in making the final decision on this bill.
A significant percentage of the fund Planned Parenthood receives from the federal government is used to provide preventive health care, pregnancy tests in addition to birth control and other services related to women’s health. The organization is the largest provider of healthcare services associated with reproduction in the U.S. Planned Parenthood has "approximately 650 health centers across the country and serves over 2.5 million people both men and women" (Milwaukee Independent). A large percentage (83 percent) of this organization’s clients are aged 20 years and above. Equally, 80 percent of these people constitute those with incomes below 150 percent of what is referred to as the federal poverty level (Strickland 2017). According to Planned Parenthood, 80 percent of its patients constitute those who want to prevent unintended pregnancy. From these findings, one can confirm that Planned Parenthood serves a great percentage of people in the U.S. Similarly, the main beneficiaries of this organization are the poor men and women from the society. Defunding this organization will affect over 2.5 million people in the U.S. Their health will deteriorate, and others die because they will not access health care (Strickland 2017). Infant mortality will also increase since the organization provides guidance in addition to important information to new mothers on how to raise their children. Apart from healthcare issues, defunding Planned Parenthood will lead to unemployment. Employees working in this organization will be fired since the organization cannot afford to pay their salaries.
In summary, Defund Planned Parenthood act is aimed at stopping the Planned Parenthood organization from offering abortion services. The act was filed by a Republican representative, and it has received great support from other Republican representatives. The involvement of this organization in offering abortion services has influenced many women to commit abortion in the U.S. The organization has also considered abortion as a booming business because this service contributes significantly to its revenue. The organization provides abortion services in the entire country through its affiliated clinics. Teenagers are the main clients for this organization. Young women and girls seek abortion services from its clinics because it recommends abortion to women who think they are not ready for parental responsibilities. The passing of this bill will affect over 2.5 million people. The organization provides healthcare services to many men and women in the country. It will also impair the creation of awareness about sexually transmitted diseases and how to avoid unwanted pregnancies among youths and women. Despite all this, it is important for the life of the unborn to be given the priority. The voice of the innocent unborn babies can be heard through passing the Defund Planned Parenthood Act.
Works Cited
Bailey, Sarah. Poll: Most Americans Oppose Defunding Planned Parenthood. The Washington Post. January 27, 2017. Web. February 22, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/2017/live-updates/acts-of-faith/live-coverage-of- the-march-for-life/poll-most-americans-oppose-defunding-planned- parenthood/?utm_term=.344aa723cf4b
Cunningham, Paige. Planned Parenthood Defunded for One Year Under GOP Health Bill. The Washington Post. March 4, 2017. Web. February 22, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/05/04/planned-parenthood- defunded-for-one-year-under-gop-health-bill/?utm_term=.45f01e4c7a53
H.R.354 – Defund Planned Parenthood Act. 2017. Print.
Milwaukee Independent. Planned Parenthood Commemorates 80 Years in Wisconsin. October 18, 2016. Web. February 22, 2018. http://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/articles/planned-parenthood-commemorates-80- years-in-wisconsin/
National Right to Life. Planned Parenthood. National Right to Life, 2018. Web. February 22, 2018. https://www.nrlc.org/uploads/factsheets/FS16PPAbortion.pdf
North, Annah. What Planned Parenthood Really Does. The New York Times, March 18, 2016. Web. February 22, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/19/opinion/what-planned- parenthood-really-does.html
Planned Parenthood. Considering Abortion, 2018. Web. February 22, 2018. plannedparenthood.org
Russell, Sabin. 2 More Women Die After Taking Abortion Pill: Planned Parenthood Says It’s Changing Recommendation on How to Take Drug. San Francisco Chronicle. March 18, 2006.
Strickland, Ashley. Planned Parenthood: Fast Facts and Revealing Numbers. CNN, August 1, 2017. Web. February 22, 2018. https://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/04/health/planned- parenthood-by-the-numbers/index.html
