Tennessee Representative Mark Green is introducing the States Choose Life Act of 2023 to safeguard pro-life states like Tennessee from potential penalties by the Biden administration, specifically the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Green argues that the HHS is unfairly targeting states that restrict abortion access by threatening to withdraw Title X funding, a vital program providing healthcare services, including contraception and cancer screenings, to around 4 million low-income Americans annually.
Green's legislation aims to amend Title X of the Public Health Service Act, preventing the HHS from withholding funds from states that decline to refer residents to abortion providers in other states. The representative, also an ER physician, emphasizes the importance of Title X funding for essential healthcare services and warns that its revocation could leave vulnerable populations without access to crucial care. He criticizes the Biden administration for allegedly using Title X funding as leverage to coerce states into supporting abortion access, contrary to their legal rights.
The impetus for the bill stems from the HHS's recent notification to Tennessee that it would lose its Title X funding, which has historically assisted low-income families in the state. Green expressed strong disapproval of this decision in a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, accusing the administration of playing politics with vital healthcare resources. He highlighted Tennessee's compliance with its constitutional and legal authority in enacting pro-life legislation. Green also connected the timing of the bill to the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, emphasizing the ongoing battle to protect unborn life. He argues that states should have the autonomy to create pro-life laws without facing federal retaliation.
Last year, Tennessee received over $7.1 million in Title X funding as part of the $256.6 million allocated nationwide by the Biden administration for family planning services. Green condemned the HHS for allegedly coercing medical professionals into referring patients for abortions against their conscience, underscoring the ethical implications of the administration's actions.
