Defunding Planned Parenthood

Floor Speech

Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a father of four, a regular dad who loves my children more than I love my own life. I know I speak for millions when I say that my wife, Jenny, and I fell in love with our children before they were even born.

It is this love for my children that led me to the pro-life movement, to serve on the board of directors of a crisis pregnancy center, to offer free legal services for those who want to adopt.

It is in this spirit of love, informed by powerful life experiences, that I rise today in strong support of legislation to defund Planned Parenthood.

Now, Hoosiers have made it clear. They should not be forced to violate their own conscience so that Planned Parenthood can continue to operate.

Given the light that has recently been shed on Planned Parenthood's gruesome practices and procedures, can we not agree that taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for these atrocities?

Now, if the best argument on the other side is that eliminating taxpayer subsidies for Planned Parenthood would create access problems, that is just not the case. The 73 federally qualified health centers, 63 rural clinics, and 24 community health centers in the State of Indiana, all of which provide women vital health services without providing abortions, prove otherwise.

Theirs is an empty argument, one I would encourage my colleagues, as a matter of integrity, to put to rest. Let's free Americans from participation in this morally reprehensible practice.

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