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Rubio Joins With 123 Members Of Congress To Demand Transparency Regarding Federal Funding Of Planned Parenthood, Affiliates

Mar 4, 2016 | Press Releases

Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today joined with 123 members of Congress to demand the Obama Administration provide a detailed explanation of the federal funding of organizations that promote or perform abortions, notably Planned Parenthood and its affiliates. The group also called for an evaluation of funding for two non-governmental organizations that provide abortions and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which do not perform abortions but are forced to compete with Planned Parenthood for limited taxpayer dollars.
 
“We are writing to request up-to-date information regarding federal funding of Planned Parenthood, International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International,” the senators wrote in a letter to head of the GAO Gene L. Dodaro. “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,” the senators continued. “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.”
 
In addition to Rubio, the letter was also signed by 17 Republican Senators and 106 members of the House of Representatives.
 
A PDF of the letter is available here and the full text is available 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