Maryland lawmakers approve bill to preserve funding for Planned Parenthood

By Julia Heimlich and Lexie Schapitl

The U.S. Senate narrowly passed a bill March 30 that would allow individual states to deny federal funds to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, but Maryland state lawmakers are taking action to protect abortion access in the event the federal government cuts funding.

In a 32-15 vote March 28, the Maryland Senate approved a bill that would direct about $2.7 million to Planned Parenthood in the event that Congress moves to defund the organization. The bill had already passed in the House of Delegates, and now Republican Gov. Larry Hogan must decide whether he will sign the bill.

Read more: Maryland Democrats want state funding for Planned Parenthood if Trump cuts federal aid

The $2.7 million is composed of $2 million from Maryland’s Medicaid budget and $700,000 from the general fund, according to CBS Baltimore.

Republican lawmakers opposed to abortion have called to defund Planned Parenthood for years. The GOP’s American Health Care Act, a proposed replacement of the Affordable Care Act that lawmakers withdrew March 24, would have eliminated Medicaid reimbursements or federal grants for the women’s health organization. The White House offered to preserve federal funding earlier this month as long as Planned Parenthood stopped performing abortions.

In last week’s U.S. Senate vote, Vice President Pence broke a 50-50 tie to advance a bill allowing states to block federal “Title X” family planning funds from organizations that provide abortions. The Title X Family Planning Program began in 1970, and has helped about four million people afford health care, according to Planned Parenthood. The program provides services for women including breast exams, cervical and breast cancer screenings, birth control and STD/HIV testing.

Read more: The University of Maryland’s nearest Planned Parenthood is closing next week

Former President Barack Obama issued a directive shortly before leaving office preventing states from distributing Title X funds based on whether an organization provides abortions. Existing legislation already prevents federal money from funding abortions except under rare circumstances.

Maryland is the first state to take action against these Republican efforts in Congress, according to the Baltimore Sun. The state’s Planned Parenthood funding measure passed in both houses with enough votes to override a potential veto.