NCFPC Recognizes Pence Amendment

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NCFPC Recognizes Pence Amendment

Special Report - March 3, 2011
This week, the North Carolina Family Policy Council (NCFPC) joined with 59 other pro-life groups and organizations in thanking House congressional leaders for supporting the Pence Amendment, a measure that seeks to remove all federal funding from Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider. Although the Pence Amendment was recently passed by the House of Representatives, it must still be approved by the Senate to be included as a provision of the federal budget.

In an open letter to Speaker John Boehner (R–Ohio) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R–Virginia), the NCFPC, along with other leading groups like the Family Research Council (FRC), Americans United for Life (AUL) Action, the Susan B. Anthony List, and Focus on the Family’s CitizenLink, thanked the U.S. House for standing up “for women and the unborn” by removing all federal dollars from Planned Parenthood, which receives approximately one-third of its annual budget from government funding.

In light of recent scandal surrounding the organization, where undercover video released by LiveAction showed Planned Parenthood employees offering advice and assistance to individuals posing as a pimp and a prostitute, the letter argued that, “Planned Parenthood, a scandal-plagued abortion company, no longer deserves hundreds of millions in federal dollars each year while it continues to abuse innocent young victims.”

Further, the letter states: “As debate over the Continuing Resolution continues, you and your colleagues will undoubtedly receive pressure from Planned Parenthood and its allies. Spending must be reduced, and taxpayers do not need to be, and do not want to be, funding the abortion empire. Defunding Planned Parenthood is a non-negotiable for this budget. We hope you will continue to champion the Pence provision to ensure that it is not removed during the legislative process.”

Although the Pence Amendment had bipartisan support in the House, it is expected to have more difficulty gaining passage in the Senate.

Related resources:
U.S. House De-funds Planned Parenthood - February 22, 2011
Congress Defending Life - February 16, 2011
Majority of Americans Now Pro-Life - May 19, 2009
Majority of Americans Favor Laws Limiting Abortions - January 12, 2009
Healthcare Debate Over Abortion - October 26, 2009
U.S. Senate Approves Pro-Life Amendment - March 4, 2008