Pete Olson : Black, Olson, Vitter Renew Call for GAO Answers on Taxpayer Funding for Planned Parenthood and Related Groups

Washington, DC - Representatives Diane Black (TN), Pete Olson (TX) and Senator David Vitter (LA) led a group of more than 120 members of Congress requesting a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on how taxpayer funding is specifically used by Planned Parenthood and other federally funded organizations that perform or promote abortion. Black, Olson, and Vitter released the following statements:

'The latest annual report from Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, showed that preventive healthcare services are, once again, on the decline while the organization continued to perform more than 320,000 abortions a year,' said Congressman Diane Black. 'Despite this, their taxpayer funding has increased over the last year even as serious new questions are raised about the organization's ethics and adherence to federal law. An independent study of the federal funding for abortion providers is necessary to further expose the truth of how these precious taxpayer dollars are truly being used. As a nurse for more than 40 years, I continue to believe that federal funding must not be used to subsidize organizations that disrespect innocent life by promoting or performing abortions. This independent report will give lawmakers and the public the most up to date and accurate information on the use of taxpayer funding for abortion providers and the alternative options available for critical health care services. My hope is that through greater transparency and accountability we can successfully mobilize the support needed to defund abortion providers - once and for all.'

'This is the third time my colleagues have joined me to request this needed report to provide critical transparency on how much taxpayer funding organizations like Planned Parenthood receive,' said Congressman Pete Olson. 'A majority of Americans oppose taxpayer funding for groups that promote or perform abortion and we must apply strict scrutiny to every federal dollar allocated. Since coming to Congress, I have fought against unnecessary and excessive government spending in all areas, especially in the fight to protect the unborn. I'm pleased we have such a strong level of support from our House and Senate colleagues and look forward to the GAO report when it is completed.'

'It is tragic and completely unacceptable that taxpayer dollars of hard working Americans are funding abortion mills like Planned Parenthood,' said Senator David Vitter. 'For years, Planned Parenthood has deceived the American public, and I am confident this GAO report will unmask their deception. There is no defensible explanation for allowing Planned Parenthood to continue to profit from taxpayer dollars. Rest assured I will continue to fight with my colleagues in the House and Senate in protecting the lives of unborn children.'

To view a PDF of Black, Olson, and Vitter's letter to the GAO, click HERE. A transcript of the letter is provided below:

March 4, 2016

The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro
Comptroller General of the United States
U.S. Government Accountability Office
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20548

Dear Mr. Dodaro,

We are writing to request up-to-date information regarding federal funding of Planned Parenthood, International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) prepared a report dated March 20, 2015 regarding federal funds provided for fiscal years 2010-2012 to certain organizations involved in health related activities.

Relying on the promise of openness and transparency often mentioned by the current Administration, it is our hope that the requested information be updated and made available to Congress and the public. Proper oversight of publicly funded programs is crucial in determining the value of the goods and services provided to the taxpayer, and allow policymakers to more carefully and thoroughly review them.

Accordingly, for 2013-2015 please identify the following:

For the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (including affiliates):
The amount of federal obligations and disbursements to, and expenditures of federal funds by, each of these organizations in each fiscal year;
The federal agencies (such as ACF and any other agency or sub-agency that funds activities that Planned Parenthood may provide), funding source (e.g., block grants), and programs associated with these federal funds (including Medicaid and Title X);
How these funds were made available (e.g. direct or pass-through funding).
For the International Planned Parenthood Federation (including affiliates) and Marie Stopes International (including affiliates):
The amount of federal obligations and disbursements to, and expenditures of federal funds by, each of these organizations in each fiscal year;
The federal agencies (such as USAID, PEPFAR and any other agency or sub-agency that funds activities that the groups in question may provide), funding source, and programs associated with these federal funds (including funding provided by USAID missions);
How these funds were made available (e.g. direct or pass-through funding).

We respectfully request that your report also include information about Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) including data on the number of individuals served, the types of visits provided, the preventive services provided, and the amount of federal funding allocated to FQHC in 2013-2015.

Our hope is that this report will be completed in a timely manner and request a projection of its expected completion. Thank you for your attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Rep. Diane Black
Rep. Pete Olson
Sen. David Vitter
Rep. Todd Young
Rep. Mark Meadows
Rep. Bill Flores
Rep. Blake Farenthold
Rep. Kevin Cramer
Rep. Morgan Griffith
Rep. Tim Huelskamp
Rep. Markwayne Mullin
Rep. David Joyce
Rep. Bill Huizenga
Rep. Sean Duffy
Rep. Keith Rothfus
Rep. Andy Harris
Rep. Roger Williams
Rep. Bill Johnson
Rep. Brad Wenstrip
Rep. Rodney Davis
Rep. Trey Gowdy
Rep. Trent Kelly
Rep. Garret Graves
Rep. French Hill
Rep. Charles Boustany
Rep. Tom Price
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry
Rep. Lou Barletta
Rep. Jody Hice
Rep. Bradley Byrne
Rep. Mike Kelly
Rep. Bruce Westerman
Rep. Lynn Jenkins
Rep. Michael McCaul
Rep. Jim Bridenstine
Rep. Gary Palmer
Rep. Garret Graves
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers
Rep. Barry Loudermilk
Rep. Robert Aderholt
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann
Rep. Curt Clawson
Rep. Kevin Brady
Rep. Brian Babin
Rep. Doug LaMalfa
Rep. Chris Stewart
Rep. John Ratcliffe
Rep. Jim Renacci
Rep. Bob Gibbs
Rep. Dave Brat
Rep. Steven Palazzo
Rep. Jeff Miller
Rep. Scott DesJarlais
Rep. Joe Pitts
Rep. David Rouzer
Rep. Richard Hudson
Rep. Ann Wagner
Rep. Glenn Grothman
Rep. Paul Gosar
Rep. Luke Messer
Rep. Randy Weber
Rep. Rick Allen
Rep. Dan Benishek
Rep. Ted Yoho
Rep. Buddy Carter
Rep. Joe Barton
Rep. John Carter
Rep. Gus Bilirakis
Rep. Randy Forbes
Rep. John Flemming
Rep. John Duncan
Rep. Steve King
Rep. Mac Thornberry
Rep. Mick Mulvaney
Rep. Virginia Foxx
Rep. Chris Smith
Rep. John Culberson
Rep. Doug Lamborn
Rep. Ted Poe
Rep. Austin Scott
Rep. Jeb Hensarling
Rep. Tim Murphy
Rep. Pete Sessions
Rep. Scott Garret
Rep. Vicky Hartzler
Rep. Joe Wilson
Rep. Adrian Smith
Rep. Peter Roskam
Rep. Dan Lipinski
Rep. Steve Scalise
Rep. Michael Burgess
Rep. Walter Jones
Rep. Sam Johnson
Rep. Kenny Marchant
Rep. Kevin McCarthy
Rep. Kristi Noem
Rep. Brett Guthrie
Rep. Cynthia Lummis
Rep. Steve Pearce
Rep. Tim Walberg
Rep. Trent Franks
Rep. Blain Luetkemeyer
Rep. Tom Graves
Rep. James Sensenbreen
Rep. Robert Latta
Rep. Rob Wittman
Rep. Darin LaHood
Sen. Rand Paul
Sen. Marco Rubio
Sen. Roy Blunt
Sen. Mike Enzi
Sen. Mike Lee
Sen. James Risch
Sen. Dan Coats
Sen. Joni Ernst
Sen. John Thune
Sen. Jerry Moran
Sen. Mitch McConnell
Sen. James Inhofe
Sen. Pat Roberts
Sen. James Lankford
Sen. Steve Daines
Sen. Bill Cassidy
Sen. Thom Tillis

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