The "Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act" prohibits Title X funding from going to entities that perform abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the woman's life, and requires detailed reporting to Congress.
Virginia Foxx
Representative
NC-5
The "Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act" prohibits the Secretary from providing Title X funding to any entity that performs abortions or provides funds to other entities that perform abortions, with exceptions only for abortions resulting from rape, incest, or to save the woman's life. It requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress with a list of all entities receiving Title X grants. The report must include the number of abortions performed under the exceptions, the date of the latest certification for each entity receiving a Title X grant, and a list of each entity to which a Title X grantee makes funds available.
Title X Funding Ban for Abortion Providers: 'Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act' Cuts Off Funds
The "Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act" flat-out blocks any organization that performs abortions, or even funds other organizations that do, from receiving Title X grants. Title X is the federal program that provides family planning and preventative care, so we are talking about money for services like contraception, STD screenings, the basics.
Blocking the Funding Stream
This bill, SEC. 2, says no Title X money if you're involved with abortions. There are exceptions for rape, incest, or if the woman's life is at risk, but those are the only exceptions. Even then, the Secretary has to report to Congress every year, listing every entity getting Title X money, the number of abortions under those exceptions (broken down by reason), and when each entity was last certified. They also have to list every organization that gets funding from a Title X grantee. So, a full accounting of who is getting money and what for.
Real-World Impact
Imagine a community health clinic that provides a whole range of services, including contraception, cancer screenings, and abortions. Under this law, they lose all Title X funding. This could mean they have to cut back on services, raise prices, or even close. A small-town nurse might have to tell a patient that the free STD testing they relied on is no longer available because the clinic also provides abortion services.
Or consider a non-profit that helps smaller clinics with administrative costs. If one of those smaller clinics performs abortions (even just a few, and even if those are only in the exception cases), the umbrella non-profit loses all its Title X funding. This could create a ripple effect, hurting multiple providers.
The Definition of "Entity"
The bill, in SEC. 2, defines "entity" very broadly. It's not just the organization receiving the grant; it includes anything that controls it, is controlled by it, or is under common control. This means a large healthcare system could be impacted because of the actions of a single, small affiliated clinic. It casts a very wide net.
Challenges and Existing Laws
This bill directly impacts how Title X, a long-standing federal program, operates. It adds layers of reporting and restrictions that could make it harder for organizations to provide care, especially in underserved communities. The requirement for detailed annual reports to Congress adds a significant administrative burden, and the broad definition of "entity" could lead to unintended consequences for organizations only loosely connected to abortion services.