Republican lawmakers are demanding an investigation into whether Planned Parenthood provided false or misleading information to the federal government in order to obtain COVID-19 relief funds.
The lawmakers, including Sen. James Lankford and Rep. Josh Brecheen, both Republicans from Oklahoma, sent a letter to Christi Grimm, the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general, requesting an investigation into Planned Parenthood’s applications for over $20 million in Provider Relief Funding.
The lawmakers argue that Planned Parenthood, with its financial statements showing $1.7 billion in revenue and $2.5 billion in net assets, did not have a financial need for the relief funds and that taxpayer money should not be allocated towards the provision of abortions.
The Provider Relief Funding program was created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to assist healthcare providers impacted by the pandemic. The lawmakers called for a criminal or civil referral to the U.S. Department of Justice if it is found that Planned Parenthood intentionally falsified information.
The Inspector General’s office has acknowledged receiving the letter and is currently reviewing it.
Planned Parenthood has not issued a comment on the matter.
The investigation also aims to determine whether Planned Parenthood used the relief funds for abortions, despite the program’s explicit requirement that the funds cannot be allocated for such purposes.
The Republican lawmakers cited the organization’s increase in abortion procedures, with 383,460 performed between 2020 and 2021, as potential evidence of the misappropriation of funds.
This is not the first time that GOP lawmakers have called for investigations into Planned Parenthood receiving COVID-19 relief funding. Previously, they questioned the disbursement of $80 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans to Planned Parenthood affiliates.
An investigation by the Inspector General for the Small Business Administration concluded that Planned Parenthood met the requirements for the PPP loans.
Perspective: As the debate over Planned Parenthood’s use of COVID-19 relief funds continues, it is essential to consider the broader implications of this issue. The demand for an investigation by GOP lawmakers highlights their concerns about the allocation of taxpayer money and the potential misuse of funds. However, it is crucial to approach this topic responsibly, ensuring that any investigation is conducted impartially and based on factual evidence rather than political motivations.
