U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce (R.-NM) released this statement today following House passage of the Defund Planned Parenthood Act (H.R. 3134) and Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 3504).
“The nation, like an individual, is judged by the way it speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves,” said Pearce. “Our Founders brought this country together under the premise that each and every one of us is endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, the right to life being the very first of those God-given rights. Our children are the most innocent amongst us; it is our duty to protect the unborn and to speak for those without a voice of their own.”
“Over the last several months, videos released to the public by the Center for Medical Progress have brought to light the ghastly behavior of Planned Parenthood employees in multiple states. I am appalled by the callousness displayed in these videos. Any organization that is willing to disregard the basic human rights that our Founders valiantly defended, do not deserve funding by the American taxpayer.”
“If enacted, Congresswoman Black’s bill (H.R. 3134), which passed today, will ensure that those responsible for these deplorable actions are held accountable. As an added safeguard, it provides that federal funds will go only to those who act in accordance with the law. Defunding Planned Parenthood will not reduce New Mexicans’ access to safe and effective health services. New Mexico has 165 rural clinics and other federally qualified health providers that will benefit from the money no longer directed to Planned Parenthood,” Pearce added.
The House has listened to the American people and has taken action to demand accountability for Planned Parenthood’s inhumane practices.
NOTE: H.R. 3134 defunds Planned Parenthood clinics for one year. It passed the House today 241- 187. H.R. 3504 strengthens penalties for health providers who violate the 2002 Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. It passed 248-177 and mandates that the physician’s Hippocratic Oath applies to children born alive during an abortion. Physicians who fail to provide immediate and standard medical care to born-alive abortion survivors will face a minimum of 5 years of prison, and be charged with murder if found intentionally denying care to a child born alive.