As a mother of three, including my son Cole, who has Down syndrome, I’ve found joy and responsibility in nurturing life. I spent two decades as a lawmaker in eastern Washington, where my experiences shaped my perspective on what it means to truly support life.
When Cole was born, the doctor suggested his condition might limit him. However, his remarkable spirit has taught me that every life holds potential. This belief, deeply rooted in my faith and my family, has guided my work in Congress and underscores my current call to restore funding for Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the nation and also significant in distributing cross-hormones.
I believe taxpayer dollars shouldn’t support organizations that both nurture life and end it, especially for vulnerable children. This point hits harder as our nation faces a staggering $36 trillion debt.
Planned Parenthood’s mission, influenced by the eugenics ideals of its founder, Margaret Sanger, has long concealed its true aims. Sanger notably referred to those she deemed inferior as “human weeds,” pushing an agenda to eliminate them in the early 20th century.
Today, Planned Parenthood claims to care for low-income women, but the reality often contradicts this. They argue that women would lose healthcare without Medicaid support, all while perpetuating the notion that abortion accounts for just 3% of their services.
In reality, abortion is central to their operations. According to their own data, they perform over 1,000 abortions daily, having ended more than 8 million lives since 1973.
This isn’t healthcare; it represents a grave end to human potential on a massive scale.
The repercussions extend beyond the act of abortion itself. Research shows women face a 34% increased risk of depression and anxiety post-abortion, alongside numerous long-term effects. Furthermore, physical complications like infertility and chronic pain are documented. Planned Parenthood tends to overlook these consequences, leaving women to cope with the fallout on their own.
As a mother, I’ve witnessed the stark difference between true support and abandonment. My experiences with Cole highlight the importance of choices that uplift rather than diminish those with disabilities.
Moreover, Planned Parenthood’s role as a key provider of cross-sex hormones for “gender-affirming care” raises concerns. A recent Senate report indicated a staggering 1,400% increase in gender transition services among their affiliates.
The treatments offered to minors lack comprehensive long-term safety data and can lead to irreversible effects like infertility and increased risks of serious health issues.
Countries across Europe have moved to limit such treatments for young people, with the UK even restricting them to clinical trials in light of insufficient safety evidence.
As a mother, I feel heartbroken that Planned Parenthood champions these experimental procedures for vulnerable children, often without adequate parental consent, while other nations are pulling back on these practices.
When it comes to funding, the justification for taxpayer support is shaky. In the 2021-2022 period, they reportedly received around $670 million despite funding limitations in Hyde’s amendment, diverting resources from programs like Title X into abortion and hormone therapies.
Recent reports suggest that, over the last five years, Planned Parenthood has allocated nearly $899 million to legal battles and political campaigns, including substantial funds aimed at supporting abortion-related candidates.
Having once chaired the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I fought for responsible spending that prioritizes families over ideology. Planned Parenthood generates $2 billion in annual revenue, proving it can thrive without taxpayer money, forcing citizens to fund organizations that many find morally questionable.
Redirecting Planned Parenthood’s funding could bolster federally qualified health centers that deliver comprehensive services like mammograms and prenatal care without involving abortions or experimental treatments.
These centers reflect the kind of supportive care I advocated for while in Congress.
As noted recently, the government’s efforts to curb fraudulent spending highlight Planned Parenthood funding as a key target. Recent Supreme Court rulings reinforce that policies cannot be imposed without clear legislative approval, a principle that should also apply to Planned Parenthood’s funding.
Before my resignation in December 2024, I echoed what I shared during a pro-life hearing, saying, “Abortion does not bring hope or healing. There is despair in our country.”
My journey with Cole illustrates the beauty of embracing life’s obstacles instead of trying to erase them.
Shifting funds from Planned Parenthood could ensure a return to care that reflects moral clarity and fiscal responsibility, recognizing the dignity of all human beings, born and unborn. It’s crucial that Congress respects the constitutional commitment to life and works to safeguard children from harm. As a mother and a former lawmaker, I urge my colleagues to consider this essential change.
