During the mark-up, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) offered an amendment to prohibit funding from going to any entity that fails to certify it will not perform abortions. A GAO report published in March 2018 showed that abortion provider Planned Parenthood received $340,000 through VAWA over three years (2013-2015).
When offering his amendment, Rep. Johnson noted reports that Planned Parenthood clinics have failed to report child sex abuse. He also said, “The purpose of VAWA is not to fund abortion, obviously; it is to protect women and children. Abortion is the opposite of that."
Wednesday afternoon, Department of Health and Human (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Multiple life-related issues were addressed during the hearing:
