Republican lawmakers are demanding that Planned Parenthood be investigated for presumably falsifying or deceptive the federal authorities in requests for COVID-19 reduction cash.

Sen. James Lankford and Rep. Josh Brecheen, each Oklahoma Republicans, despatched the letter, which was signed by 35 different GOP lawmakers, Christi Grimm, the Department of Health and Human Services inspector normal.

The lawmakers requested that Ms. Grimm examine whether or not Planned Parenthood “provided false or misleading information” in purposes for over $20 million in Provider Relief Funding.

The program, referred to as PRF, was first approved by lawmakers early on within the pandemic as a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

“If it is discovered that Planned Parenthood intentionally falsified information on its applications, we ask that you submit a criminal or civil referral to the U.S. Department of Justice,” the lawmakers wrote.

The PRF was constructed to distribute funding to health-care suppliers that the pandemic had financially damage. The lawmakers contended of their letter that Planned Parenthood made $1.7 billion between 2020 and 2021, and had over $2.5 billion in internet belongings.

“Planned Parenthood’s financial statements speak for themselves,” the lawmakers wrote. “This organization did not possess a financial need for funds distributed through the PRF, nor should taxpayer dollars be given toward the provision of abortions.”

The group didn't give a timetable for when Ms. Grimm ought to reply.

A spokesperson for the Inspector General’s workplace instructed the Washington Times that the workplace had obtained the letter and that it's being reviewed.

Planned Parenthood didn't return a request for remark.

The cash was distributed in three tranches from 2020 to 2022. Payments from this system ceased following the passage of the debt ceiling deal by Congress. In all, this system disbursed $135 billion, in accordance with knowledge from the HHS.

PRF cash was disbursed to 34 Planned Parenthood associates throughout the nation. The lowest disbursement was for $71, whereas the very best was $3.08 million to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, in Vermont.

Part of the decision for an investigation is to search out out whether or not Planned Parenthood used the reduction cash to offer abortions. The program explicitly required in its phrases and situations that PRF cash can't be used for abortions.

The letter supplied no financial-fingerprint proof, past the group’s stability sheets and companies supplied generally, that Planned Parenthood had used the cash particularly for abortions.

But the lawmakers did cite a correlation of their letter to Ms. Grimm, noting that the group carried out 383,460 abortions between 2020 and 2021, which was an 8% improve from the earlier yr regardless of the pandemic and lockdown necessities.

This was not the primary time Mr. Lankford and fellow Republican lawmakers have requested investigations into Planned Parenthood receiving COVID-19 reduction funding.

Previously, Mr. Lankford and different Republican lawmakers pushed for an investigation into $80 million of Paycheck Protection Program loans disbursed to Planned Parenthood associates.

The lawmakers referred to as foul on the PPP disbursements, saying that Planned Parenthood had “knowingly provided false information” in purposes to the Small Business Administration.

The Inspector General for the SBA concluded after an investigation that Planned Parenthood met the PPP mortgage necessities. 

Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com