Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-21), member of the House Appropriations Committee, questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on the Trump administration’s cruel Title X gag rule during a subcommittee hearing on the department’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget request.

During the hearing, Rep. Frankel asked Secretary Azar a series of questions on the administration’s gag rule, which prevents organizations that receive federal Title X funding from counseling women on abortion options or providing referrals to abortion services.

Below is an excerpt from Rep. Frankel’s questioning:

“Rep Frankel: Who should decide whether or not someone brings a child into this world?

Who is the best, should someone have to call the governor, or call you, or call me?

Secretary Azar: So with regard to Title X, we are enforcing the Title X law which by Congress prohibits referral for abortion as a method of family planning and our final rule actually was upheld even by—

Frankel: Well abortion is a medical service that is legal. It's legal, is that correct?

Azar: The Congress decides where Federal money may be used in connection with abortion. And so the federal the statute and Title X prohibits referral to programs in which—

Frankel: I do understand that, and as a result of what is called a gag rule, which means providers cannot give their patients all the information they need to make important decisions, you have lost the biggest provider in the country, which is called Planned Parenthood.

For video of Rep. Frankel’s questions during the hearing, click here.

###