House to vote on defunding Planned Parenthood next week

The House will vote next week on legislation to defund Planned Parenthood for one year while Congress conducts an investigation into controversial undercover videos regarding the organization’s use of fetal tissue donations.

Next week’s vote comes as the clock is ticking for Congress to find a way to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1. Many conservatives want to block any government spending on Planned Parenthood, which other Republicans worry could spark another disastrous shutdown, such as 2013’s over the healthcare law.

Congress has a limited number of days in session before the deadline. The House will only be in session for three days next week due to Rosh Hashanah. After that, Congress will be in town for two days during the week Pope Francis is in Washington, leaving three work days in September.

{mosads}While announcing next week’s schedule, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) warned members that Friday’s session would last later than usual due to the short workweek. McCarthy made no mention of any vote on a short-term funding bill to avert a shutdown.

The vote on Rep. Diane Black’s (R-Tenn.) bill to place a moratorium on Planned Parenthood funding for one year will be the opening salvo in the government funding fight.

The House will also vote on legislation authored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) to add criminal penalties for violations of the 2002 Born Alive Infants Protection Act, which offers legal protections to infants born alive after a failed abortion attempt.

“These two critical bills will ensure that we get all the facts and protect those who cannot protect themselves,” McCarthy said.

House Republicans held on Friday morning their third and final “listening session” with members on Planned Parenthood, which drew about 40-50 people, according to Franks.

Opting not to pass a short-term funding bill next week will leave little time for the Senate to take up anything approved by the House.

— Sarah Ferris contributed.