Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and 30 Senate Republicans in introducing a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the Biden Administration’s 2021 Final Rule on the Title X Family Planning Program, which reversed the Trump Administration’s 2019 ban on federal funding to entities who provide abortion referrals to pregnant mothers. The 2019 rule did not reduce Title X funding, but simply redirected it to providers that do not perform or promote abortions as part of their “family planning” practices. U.S. Representative Tony Gonzalez (R-TX) introduced a companion resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“The right to life is our most precious and fundamental right. The Biden Administration’s Title X Family Planning Program rule directed millions of taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. This is an attack on all life. Our resolution overturns this rule and rightly protects all life – born and unborn,” said Senator Cramer.
“The Biden Administration’s rule is an assault on the most sacred and fundamental human right, the right to life,” said Senator Rubio. “I will continue to protect the sanctity of life and do everything I can to make sure taxpayer dollars are not used for or promote abortions.”
The CRA can be used by Congress to overturn certain federal agency regulations and actions through a joint resolution of disapproval. If a CRA joint resolution of disapproval is approved by both houses of Congress and signed by the President, or if Congress successfully overrides a presidential veto, the rule at issue is invalidated.
This resolution is supported by the Susan B. Anthony List, National Right to Life, Family Research Council, and Heritage Action.
Senators Cramer and Rubio were joined by Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tim Scott (R-SC), John Boozman (R-AR), John Thune (R-SD), Steve Daines (R-MT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Braun (R-IN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Rick Scott (R-FL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), James Lankford (R-OK), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Kennedy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
Background:
Senator Cramer received an A+ rating from the Susan B. Anthony List for his strong legislative record supporting pro-life measures. He joined Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and over 200 members of Congress in filing an amicus brief supporting the State of Mississippi in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Mississippi’s law protecting life.
In the 117th Congress, Senator Cramer has co-sponsored several pro-life bills including legislation to ban abortion after 20 weeks of fertilization, protect unborn babies with Down syndrome, and give states the authority to exclude abortion providers like Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funds. He has also pledged to vote against any bill that would undermine the Hyde Amendment, which is a legislative provision barring the use of federal funds to pay for abortion or any other abortion-related activities.
In February, Senator Cramer voted against Democrats’ Abortion On Demand Until Birth Act. The bill would legalize abortion through all nine months of pregnancy while simultaneously striking down pro-life laws at the state and local level in North Dakota and across the country. It also removes all protections for the unborn and invalidates laws providing for informed consent and conscience protection. He also co-sponsored the Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Reporting Data Act, legislation to require states to report accurate and complete data about abortion, including cases where babies are born alive during abortions.