Hirono Denounces “Unrelenting Republican Crusade” Against Planned Parenthood

Senator Mazie K. Hirono admonished Senate Republicans for their latest attack on Planned Parenthood. Vice President Mike Pence was called to the Senate to break a tied vote to roll back protections that stop states from cutting Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers out of federal Title X grants.

From Senator Hirono’s remarks:

“But if this Congressional Review Act resolution is passed, Planned Parenthood clinics across our country can be prohibited from receiving Title X funding, even though it is currently illegal to use federal dollars to fund abortion services.

“Let me repeat, no federal dollars can be used to fund abortion services. Period. I understand the strong anti-abortion belief held by some of my colleagues. What I don’t understand is why this belief translates into relentless attacks on an organization that uses no federal funds for abortion.

“Planned Parenthood uses federal funds to provide vital health services to millions of people. In 2014, Planned Parenthood provided over 600,000 cancer screenings and over 4 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections. But this is a factual argument, and we’ve learned over the years that many of my Republican colleagues simply won’t listen to facts when it comes to Planned Parenthood.”