The author of legislation in the House to defund Planned Parenthood in the wake of controversial videos lamented the lack of a vote before the chamber departs for a monthlong summer break.
“I stand here profoundly disappointed that the House will leave town today without taking a vote on my legislation to defund Planned Parenthood,” Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) said on the House floor on Wednesday.
“Today, I’m reminded of the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: ‘Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.'”
{mosads}House GOP leadership has indicated a measure to defund Planned Parenthood won’t come up for a vote anytime soon.
“In order to enact legislation to defund Planned Parenthood, we need more Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate to support our efforts,” a House GOP leadership aide told The Hill this week.
House GOP leaders have condemned the videos, in which Planned Parenthood videos are shown discussing aborted fetal tissue.
Nearly 150 lawmakers have signed on to Black’s bill, all of whom are Republicans except for Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.).
The Senate, meanwhile, is expected to vote next week on legislation spearheaded by GOP presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to defund Planned Parenthood.
The House plans to depart for the August recess Wednesday evening and won’t return into session until Sept. 8.