Late last week, Representative Mike Pence (R-IN) introduced the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act in the House. If passed, the bill would amend Title X of the Public Health Services Act and ban any organization that performs abortions, except in cases or rape, incest, or if the woman’s life is endangered, from receiving family planning grants.
Under the current Public Services Act, Title X money is allocated to grantees to fund family planning services and preventive health services and may not be used on abortion services.
Betty Cockrum, President of Planned Parenthood of Indiana, pointed out that the cuts in family planning grants would have harmful consequences for public health. She clarified, “The more we do to educate people and provide birth control, the fewer…unintended pregnancies there are and the fewer abortions there are.”
