Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 271

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-09: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-05-27T08:05:56Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill, titled the "Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2025," seeks to temporarily halt federal funding to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., and its affiliates or clinics for one year, unless they agree not to perform abortions (with limited exceptions). It redirects those funds to other providers of women's health services, emphasizing that overall federal support for women's health remains unchanged.

Key Provisions

• Findings (Section 2): The bill states that various health providers (e.g., state health departments, community centers, hospitals) already offer essential women's health services like cancer screenings, prenatal care, family planning, and disease testing. It notes these services are available to underserved populations regardless of ability to pay, and any funds withheld from Planned Parenthood will go to other eligible providers.
• Moratorium on Funding (Section 3):
• No federal funds can go to Planned Parenthood or its affiliates/clinics during the one-year period starting from enactment, unless they certify they will not perform abortions or fund others to do so.
• Exceptions: The ban does not apply to abortions in cases of rape or incest, or when a woman's life is endangered by the pregnancy (as certified by a physician, including conditions arising from the pregnancy).
• If the certification is violated, the Secretaries of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture must seek repayment of any federal aid received.
• Additional Funding for Community Health Centers (Section 4): Authorizes and appropriates $235 million for the community health center program under the Public Health Service Act. This funding is in addition to existing amounts and offsets the funds withheld from Planned Parenthood. It cannot be used for abortions except in the cases allowed under Section 3.
• Rule of Construction (Section 5): The bill does not intend to decrease total federal funding for women's health services overall.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a specific one-year funding moratorium targeting Planned Parenthood, requiring a certification against performing abortions (beyond narrow exceptions), which goes beyond current restrictions like the Hyde Amendment (which already bars federal funds for most abortions but allows them for other services).
• Mandates repayment of funds for violations, enforced by HHS and the Department of Agriculture—a new enforcement mechanism not previously specified for this context.
• Explicitly offsets withheld funds by boosting community health center budgets, ensuring no net loss in federal spending for similar services.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Women relying on Planned Parenthood for non-abortion services (e.g., cancer screenings, contraception) may need to seek care elsewhere, potentially affecting access in underserved areas. However, the bill aims to maintain service availability through other providers, with added funds to community health centers.
• On Government Agencies: HHS and the Department of Agriculture gain responsibilities for certifying compliance, seeking repayments, and administering the new $235 million appropriation, which could increase administrative workload and oversight costs.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned, as the bill focuses on domestic health funding.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., and its affiliates/clinics: Directly lose federal funding unless they meet the certification requirement, potentially straining operations.
• Women and Underserved Populations: Primary beneficiaries or losers of health services, depending on access to alternative providers.
• Community Health Centers and Other Providers: Gain additional federal funding ($235 million) to expand women's health services.
• Federal Government (HHS and Department of Agriculture): Responsible for enforcement, fund redistribution, and repayment collection.
• Taxpayers: Funds are reallocated without increasing overall spending, but shifts may influence how public money supports reproductive health.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The certification requirement could lead to lawsuits over enforcement, such as disputes on what constitutes a violation or the scope of exceptions (e.g., defining "life-endangering" conditions). Repayment provisions might raise due process concerns if applied retroactively.
• Constitutional: Potential challenges under the First Amendment (free speech or association, if certification is seen as compelling organizations to restrict services) or the Fifth Amendment (equal protection, if it singles out Planned Parenthood unfairly compared to other providers). The bill's focus on abortion exceptions aligns with existing precedents like Roe v. Wade's framework (pre-Dobbs), but post-Dobbs state variations could complicate federal implementation.
• Political: As a targeted defunding measure, it reflects ongoing debates over federal support for organizations providing abortion services, likely to polarize discussions on reproductive rights without altering broader abortion laws. The one-year limit suggests it's designed as a temporary policy shift rather than a permanent change.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7]

Cosponsors (60)

Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6], Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4], Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24], Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3], Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Green, Mark E. [R-TN-7], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Taylor, David [R-OH-2], Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Onder, Robert [R-MO-3], Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5], Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5], Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1], Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11], Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2], Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large] and 10 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-09: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-01-09: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-09 — PDF (4 pages)