September 19, 2017

The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We thank you for your attention to advancing pro-life issues since taking office, including giving our states the freedom to direct the spending of our Title X family planning dollars to entities that match our states’ needs and values.

Today, we are writing to urge you to give our states similar flexibility in our Medicaid programs. Medicaid is the largest taxpayer funding stream for the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. In fact, according to research by the Charlotte Lozier Institute, Planned Parenthood commands 35% of the abortion market.

In the wake of yet another state (South Carolina) seeking the same flexibility with Medicaid dollars, combined with the recent ruling in the 8th Circuit US Court of Appeals approving Arkansas’ decision not to fund abortion providers in their Medicaid program, it is essential that your administration respond quickly. It is time to remove the administrative barrier to our states’ right to direct dollars away from abortion providers: Medicaid guidance issued by the Obama administration.1

We are a coalition of almost two hundred pro-life women lawmakers in forty-three states and at the federal level. We are devoted to measures that enhance the well-being of women and show respect for the intrinsic value of every human life in our states. We have invited other lawmakers to join us on this letter; our male and female colleagues in state legislatures with whom we have gone as far as we can to ‘defund’ abortion providers with the tools we have. Now we seek your help to unlock this massive barrier to state discretion.

We write to ask you to direct the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to rescind the interpretation that states must reimburse abortion providers and,

1 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/smd16005.pdf

National Pro-Life Women's Caucus, Susan B. Anthony List 1200 New Hampshire Avenue, Suite 750 Washington, DC 20036 P 202.223.8073 * FX 202.223.8078 instead, issue guidance giving us the flexibility to set reasonable standards that are in the best interests of our respective Medicaid programs and the patients they serve.

The prior administration’s attempt to force our states to fund the abortion industry must be reversed, and we must be allowed to spend these millions of dollars in a manner that is consistent with standards that are in the best interest of women’s health and safety.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Representative Terri Collins Representative Jill Norgaard Alabama Arizona

Senator Nancy Barto Representative David Livingston Arizona Arizona

Senator Sylvia Allen Representative Vince Leach Arizona Arizona

Senator Gail Griffin Representative Drew John Arizona Arizona

Senator John Kavanagh Representative Kevin Payne Arizona Arizona

Senator Steve Smith Representative Paul Mosley Arizona Arizona

Senator Debbie Lesko Representative David Cook Arizona Arizona

Senator Steven B. Yarbrough Representative Paul Boyer Arizona Arizona

Senator Kimberly Yee Representative Ben Toma Arizona Arizona

Senator Warren Petersen Representative Darin Mitchell Arizona Arizona

National Pro-Life Women's Caucus, Susan B. Anthony List 1200 New Hampshire Avenue, Suite 750 Washington, DC 20036 P 202.223.8073 * FX 202.223.8078

Representative John Allen Senator Liz Brown Arizona Indiana

Representative Kelly Townsend Senator Travis Holdman Arizona Indiana

Representative Jay Lawrence Senator Erin Houchin Arizona Indiana

Representative Don Shooter Senator Dennis Kruse Arizona Indiana

Representative Travis Grantham Representative Sandy Salmon Arizona Iowa

Representative Mark Finchem Senator Mary Pilcher-Cook Arizona Kansas

Assemblyman Jim Patterson Representative Susan Humphries California Kansas

Representative Kim Ransom Delegate Susan Krebs Colorado Maryland

Representative Lori Saine Senator Judy Emmons Colorado Michigan

Representative Scott Hilton Senator Michelle Benson Georgia Minnesota

Representative Brad Raffensperger Representative Cindy Pugh Georgia Minnesota

Representative Bob McDermott Representative Abigail Whelan Hawaii Minnesota

Representative Tom Morrison Representative Jim Knoblach Illinois Minnesota

Representative Ron Bacon Senator Robert F. Onder, M.D., J.D. Indiana Missouri

National Pro-Life Women's Caucus, Susan B. Anthony List 1200 New Hampshire Avenue, Suite 750 Washington, DC 20036 P 202.223.8073 * FX 202.223.8078

Representative Donna Lichtenegger Representative Larry G. Pittman Missouri North Carolina

Representative Jeanine Notter Representative Michael Speciale New Hampshire North Carolina

Senator Joyce Krawiec Representative Carl Ford North Carolina North Carolina

Senator Shirley B. Randleman Representative Beverly G. Boswell North Carolina North Carolina

Senator Dan Bishop Representative Cody Henson North Carolina North Carolina

Senator Ralph Hise Representative North Carolina North Carolina

Senator Norman Sanderson Representative Debra Conrad North Carolina North Carolina

Senator Tommy Tucker Representative George G. Cleveland North Carolina North Carolina

Senator David Curtis Representative North Carolina North Carolina

Senator Deanna Ballard Representative Michele Presnell North Carolina North Carolina

Senator Kathy Harrington Representative North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Pat McElraft Representative Rena Turner North Carolina North Carolina

Representative John Bradford III Representative North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Representative John Sauls North Carolina North Carolina

National Pro-Life Women's Caucus, Susan B. Anthony List 1200 New Hampshire Avenue, Suite 750 Washington, DC 20036 P 202.223.8073 * FX 202.223.8078

Representative Representative Julia Howard North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Representative Mitchell Setzer North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Representative North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Allen McNeill Representative North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Representative D. Craig Horn North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Susan Martin Representative Bob Steinburg North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Linda Hunt Williams Representative Donna White North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Representative Scott D. Stone North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Representative Chris Millis North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Jonathan C. Jordan Representative Bert Jones North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Representative North Carolina North Carolina

Representative David Rogers Representative North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Representative North Carolina North Carolina

Representative Representative Holly Grange North Carolina North Carolina

National Pro-Life Women's Caucus, Susan B. Anthony List 1200 New Hampshire Avenue, Suite 750 Washington, DC 20036 P 202.223.8073 * FX 202.223.8078

Representative Senator Glen Sturtevant North Carolina Virginia

Senator Janne Myrdal Delegate Nick Freitas North Dakota Virginia

Senator Karen Rohr Delegate R. Steven Landes North Dakota Virginia

Representative Christina Hagan Delegate Tony Wilt Ohio Virginia

Senator Julie Daniels Delegate Dave LaRock Oklahoma Virginia

Representative Kathy Rapp Delegate John O’Bannon Pennsylvania Virginia

Representative Heather Ammons Crawford Delegate Brenda Pogge South Carolina Virginia

Representative Debra Moody Delegate Ben Cline Tennessee Virginia

Senator Janice Bowling Delegate Riley Ingram Tennessee Virginia

Representative Stephanie Klick Senator Jan Angel Texas Washington

Representative Cindy Burkett Senator Mike Padden Texas Washington

Senator Margaret Dayton Senator Mark Miloscia Utah Washington

Senator Amanda Chase Delegate Kelli Sobonya Virginia West Virginia

Senator Charles W. Carrico Delegate Kayla Kessinger Virginia West Virginia

National Pro-Life Women's Caucus, Susan B. Anthony List 1200 New Hampshire Avenue, Suite 750 Washington, DC 20036 P 202.223.8073 * FX 202.223.8078