House in Shambles Over Attacks on Medication Abortion in Federal Spending Bill
For Immediate Release: July 27, 2023
Speaker McCarthy is delaying the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill floor vote
Washington, D.C. — This week, the U.S. House of Representatives was scheduled to vote on the Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill before returning to their districts for August recess. But as Politico, Axios, and Punchbowl have reported, the floor vote is delayed because some Republican members are hesitant to vote for a bill that adds restrictions to medication abortion. And with good reason: Public polling shows that most adults want medication abortion to stay on the market.
So why include an unpopular measure in a federal funding bill? That’s the current playbook — using the appropriations process to sneak in abortion bans and restrictions, in addition to attacks on Planned Parenthood and gender-affirming care, all in their efforts to pass a national abortion ban.
Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund:
“Anti-abortion politicians are scared — as they very well should be. They know their constituents don’t want more restrictions on medication abortion and that this vote will hurt their re-election chances. Will they stand with the American people, or continue to push an unpopular anti-abortion agenda?”
This morning, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Physicians for Reproductive Health led a group of more than 100 advocacy organizations signing a letter opposing any attacks on medication abortion and in support of Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s (D-CT-03) amendment to strike the mifepristone restriction from the bill.
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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and limited electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.