MISS. LAWMAKERS ASK HHS INSPECTOR GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE PLANNED PARENTHOOD
Hyde-Smith, Guest & Ezell Sign Letter Seeking Review of Abortion-Providing Organization’s Use of Taxpayer Funds
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, and U.S. Representatives Michael Guest (R-Miss.) and Mike Ezell (R-Miss.) are among more than 100 Members of Congress seeking an investigation into the activities and federal funding streams of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. and its affiliates.
The three Mississippi lawmakers are among 128 signers of a letter to the Inspector General (IG) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to review the federal funds Planned Parenthood and its affiliates have received and determine whether they were used in accordance with federal law. The request follows the launch of a Small Business Administration investigation into whether Planned Parenthood affiliates illegally received $88 million in loans during the COVID pandemic.
“Concerns have long been raised regarding the organization’s compliance with applicable federal laws, regulations, and program requirements governing the receipt and use of federal funds. In particular, these concerns relate to whether Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. and the organization’s affiliates have adhered to applicable requirements governing program integrity, financial accountability, and the proper use of funds provided through HHS-administered programs,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers argue these concerns warrant a comprehensive review of Planned Parenthood’s use of federal funds and compliance with federal law, especially considering other reports of fraud, making false statements, violating federal criminal laws, and knowingly failing to disclose violations of criminal law.
The letter, among other things, asked the IG to review federal funding streams received by Planned Parenthood through HHS programs, grants, contracts, and subawards. It also seeks to determine whether evidence exists of fraud, waste, abuse, misrepresentation, or other violations affecting federal health programs.
“Given the significant taxpayer resources that flow through federal health and human services programs, it is critical that recipient organizations operate with transparency, integrity, and full compliance with federal standards,” the lawmakers wrote.
Finally, the lawmakers also encouraged the IG to coordinate with other federal oversight agencies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as needed, as part of this investigation.
Click here to read the letter, which was led by U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) and U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-N.J.)
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