WASHINGTON, DC– Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX) today reintroduced his pro-life legislation requiring states to report how Medicaid funds are spent on organizations that perform, promote, or refer for abortion services. The Olson bill, H.R. 4849, the Taxpayer Conscience Protection Act, would provide greater accountability of taxpayer funds that go to organizations that perform or promote abortions.
“As Americans continue to increase their value for life, they demand accountability from their government and do not want their tax dollars spent on abortion advocates. We need a bright light on where taxpayer dollars are being spent by these groups,” Rep. Olson said. “Greater transparency is critically important and precisely what these groups seek to avoid.
“This legislation provides a critical tool to ensure that state funds allocated to these groups through Medicaid are known to the public. As we see thousands of Americans stand in defense of life, I will continue every effort to prevent taxpayers from being forced to support abortion organizations,” Olson concluded.
H.R. 4849 directs each state that makes a Medicaid payment from federal funds during the fiscal year for any items or services furnished by an abortion provider to: (1) report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on all such payments, and (2) publish the report on a public Internet website of the state. It also requires an annual report to specified congressional committees on such reports, which shall also be published on a public Internet HHS website.