Cardinal Dolan Welcomes Congressional Action to Nullify Title X Rule

WASHINGTON—Cardinal Timothy Dolan, chair of theUSCCB's Committee on Pro-Life Activities, praised both chambers of the U.S.Congress for taking action to nullify a bad policy imposed by the ObamaAdministration. Congress' joint resolution of disapproval (H.J. Res 43 / S.Res. 13) was passed by the House in mid-February, and by the Senate on March30, 2017. It overrides a rule change made latein the Obama Administration that prevented states from redirecting Title X familyplanning funding away from abortion providers like Planned Parenthood tocommunity health centers that provide comprehensive primary and preventivehealth care. The rule change went into effect on January 18, 2017.

"Theclear purpose of this Title X rule change was to benefit abortion providerslike Planned Parenthood," Cardinal Dolan said. "So Congress has done well toreverse this very bad public policy, and to restore the ability of states tostop one stream of our tax dollars going to Planned Parenthood and redirect itto community health centers that provide comprehensive primary and preventivehealth care."

Title X of the Public Health Services Act was passed by Congressin 1970 to control population growth by distributing contraceptives tolow-income families. Planned Parenthood is the largest recipient of Title Xfunding. PlannedParenthood is also the nation's largest abortion network -- performing over athird of all abortions in the U.S. -- and receives more than half a billiontaxpayer dollars each year.

Congressacted within the statutory 60-day window to nullify the new regulation.Introduced by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), the House resolution (H.J. Res. 43) wasapproved on February 16 (230-188); and the Senate resolution (S.J. Res. 13),introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), passed by a one-vote margin on March 30,2017. Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote. 

Themeasure now goes to President Trump, who is expected to sign the resolutioninto law.

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Keywords: Cardinal Tim Dolan, Archbishop of New York, U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Committee on Pro-Life Activities, U.S.House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, Vice President Pence, President Trump, HHS,Congress, pro-life, federal funding, abortion, Public Health Services Act, TitleX, contraception, family planning, women's health, comprehensive care, communityhealth centers, Planned Parenthood

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