Protect Funding for Women's Health Care Act

# Protect Funding for Women's Health Care Act Summary **What the bill would do:** This bill would prevent the federal government from providing any funding to Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider and family planning organization. If passed, Planned Parenthood clinics and affiliated organizations would lose access to federal dollars, though the bill does not affect private donations or state funding sources. **Who it affects:** The bill would impact Planned Parenthood's operations and the millions of patients who use its clinics for services like contraception, cancer screenings, STI testing, and other reproductive health care. It would also affect federal healthcare programs like Medicaid that currently reimburse Planned Parenthood for certain services.

The bill is sponsored by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA). **Current status:** As of now, the bill remains in committee and has not advanced to a full Senate vote. This is a topic with strong partisan and ideological disagreement—supporters argue federal funds shouldn't support abortion services, while opponents contend the bill would restrict access to essential health care services for low-income women, since federal dollars already cannot fund abortions under existing law.