Alabama's Republican Congressmen co-sponsor bills defunding Planned Parenthood

Martha Roby in a press conference announcing the congressional investigation into Planned Parenthood (screenshot)

WASHINGTON — Every Republican member of Alabama’s congressional delegation has signed on to two bills defunding Planned Parenthood and refusing federal funds to other family planning organizations that perform abortions after revelations Planned Parenthood—which receives much of its income from federal grants—was harvesting and selling the body parts of aborted babies.

The first bill, called the “Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015,” would institute a one-year moratorium on federal funding for Planned Parenthood. During that year, Congress would investigate the organization.

Planned Parenthood annually receives more than $500 million in funding from the federal government, mostly through Medicaid and Department of Health and Human Services grants. The organization is the largest abortion provider in the country, performing over 300,000 abortions every year.

The second bill, dubbed the “Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act,” amends the Public Health Service Act to “prohibit the Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) from providing federal family planning assistance to an entity unless the entity certifies that, during the period of assistance, the entity will not perform, and will not provide funds to any other entity that performs, an abortion.”

Alabama Republicans Bradley Byrne (AL1), Martha Roby (AL2), Mike Rogers (AL3), Robert Aderholt (AL4), Mo Brooks (AL5), and Gary Palmer (AL6) have all signed on to cosponsor the two pieces of legislation.

Both bills were originally introduced by Tennessee Republican Congresswoman Diane Black.

“The things we’re just now finding out about the conversations involving the people at Planned Parenthood, where they’re selling babies’ body parts, is unbelievable and terrible,” said Rep. Byrne in a video statement. “The idea that they’re getting any federal money is just not acceptable.”

Rep. Martha Roby stood with other Republican members of Congress last week to declare, “I don’t care how much political weight Planned Parenthood throws around this town. No one is above the law!”

“The video provided proof positive for the world to see the argument that so many have been making for so long about Planned Parenthood and its disregard for human life,” said Rep. Robert Aderholt. “Congressional hearings have already been called and Planned Parenthood will have to publicly answer for these actions. As people hear about just exactly what is going on, I think you will see the minds and attitudes changing across the nation as to what this group is doing.”

Furthermore, Alabama’s U.S. Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions on Wednesday signed a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell urging her agency to cooperate with upcoming investigations into Planned Parenthood and warning DHS not to delete any relevant records.