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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) today joined colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives in supporting the passage of H.R. 3495, the Women’s Public Health and Safety Act. Rep. Latta is a cosponsor of the legislation.

The bill increases state flexibility to remove abortion providers from a state’s Medicaid program. Previously, states that have sought to end their Medicaid contracts with the organization have been blocked from doing so by the Administration’s Center for Medicaid and Medicaid Services. 

“States should have the right to decide what medical providers receive its taxpayer’s funding. This legislation will give states the ability to establish their own criteria to determine whether or not it will allow those entities that perform elective abortions to participate in its Medicaid program,” said Rep. Latta.

Medicaid is a combined federal-state program.

“The federal government should not be allowed to force a state to fund abortions against the will of its people,” Latta continued. “There are over 10,000 community health centers across the country providing a full range of services to millions of American women, including 280 healthcare alternatives here in Ohio. Many states may chose to utilize its taxpayer dollars for the funding of these centers, rather than choose the moral and ethical challenges other providers, such as Planned Parenthood, present. I cosponsored this legislation to protect unborn life, and to ensure states have the ability to do the same without interference from the federal government.”

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