Last summer’s defunding of Planned Parenthood and other large abortion providers through budget reconciliation was a historic event—the first time in permanent law that abortion providers have been stripped of federal funding. Tragically, this one-year reconciliation provision is set to expire on July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th birthday of our nation.
Southern Baptists are fiercely committed to protecting the sanctity of life and have long stood against the use of taxpayer dollars to fund Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the U.S., responsible for nearly 435,000 abortions each year. Prior to the one-year defunding provision becoming law, Planned Parenthood received hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars each year—over $800 million in Fiscal Year 2024. This revenue stream allowed Planned Parenthood to direct other monetary resources to pay for and promote abortions. The expiration of the defund provision will allow this to happen again.
The ERLC wholeheartedly supports Sen. Hawley’s proposed amendment to extend the current policy provision barring large abortion providers from receiving Medicaid dollars through 2035.
As stated in our 2026 Public Policy Agenda,
“In 2026, it is our hope to extend the one-year prohibition and to take advantage of appropriate legislative vehicles to propose a more permanent prohibition of abortion providers. Redirecting these funds to pregnancy resource centers or other avenues that provide comprehensive care and support for mothers without performing abortions is a crucial step in protecting life and respecting the consciences of taxpayers.”
As a nation, how we allocate resources shows what we value. We urge lawmakers to value every person made in the image of God and to pursue every legislative avenue to protect innocent human lives from the predatory abortion industry. We pray that Congress will faithfully work to this end.
The Senate is expected to vote on this amendment this evening. You can track amendments as they are considered through the Senate Budget Committee website here.
