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Virginia Foxx, who represents Ashe County in the U.S. House of Representatives, has joined 64 other House colleagues in co-sponsoring legislation blocking all federal funding for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

“With so many Americans fundamentally opposed to abortion, organizations that perform elective abortions should not receive taxpayer dollars,” Foxx said in a news release. “While there are currently restrictions that prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars to fund elective abortion directly, we know that money is fungible and that federal funds support these organizations’ entire operations, including elective abortion.”

House Resolution 3197, the Protecting Life and Taxpayers Act, completely defunds all entities that provide abortions or contribute to abortion providers, according to the news release.

According to Foxx’s spokeswoman, Sheridan Watson, funding for abortion providers will be prohibited unless the provider certifies that it will not perform abortions during the period for which funding is provided, and that the provider will not offer any funds to entities that do perform abortions.

“Few things demean the sanctity of human life more than elective abortion,” Foxx said. “Until the day when a culture of life takes hold in the United States and all children are protected under the law, it remains my solemn duty to stand up for life. Regardless of the length of this journey, I will continue to speak for those who cannot.”

The lead sponsor for H.R. 3197 is Congresswoman Diane Black, who is also the lead sponsor of H.R. 3134, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act. H.R. 3134 would completely defund Planned Parenthood and its affiliates until the organization’s activities are fully investigated.

Foxx is joined by 64 fellow congressmen in co-sponsoring H.R. 3197, and few have been as outspoken about this issue as Rep. Jason Smith from Missouri’s 8th Congressional District.

On July 24, Smith made a statement supporting both bills. In his statement, Smith referenced a controversial video about Planned Parenthood employees discussing abortion procedures. The video has been circulating through the national media during the past week.

“The videos showing Planned Parenthood executives talking so callously about the dismemberment of these babies made me sick to my stomach,” Smith said in a news release. “Not one penny of taxpayer dollars should be used to support Planned Parenthood’s actions, or any organization that performs abortions.”

Foxx represents North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District and is the elected Republican Conference secretary.

Foxx is the chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and serves as vice chairwoman of the House Rules Committee.

http://ashemountaintimes.com/news/foxx-joins-legislation-to-end-funding-for-abortions/article_b9eadee7-e471-5ddf-9128-270f67707e36.html