¶ Tim Scott On Abortion And Roe
Highlights:
- Tim Scott dismissed the impact of abortion bans on the economy.
- Scott criticized the Treasury Secretary for pointing out the economic implications of abortion bans.
- Tim Scott has been a longtime opponent of Roe v. Wade.
- Scott praised the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the right to safe and legal abortion.
- Scott celebrated on the anniversary of the Dobbs decision.
- Scott said he was proud to support the Supreme Court Justices who overturned Roe v. Wade.
- Tim Scott supported a federal abortion ban.
- Scott campaigned on signing a federal abortion ban as president.
- Scott cosponsored legislation that would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
- Scott called for a federal abortion ban of at least 15 weeks of pregnancy.
- Scott promised to support extreme anti-abortion legislation as president.
- Tim Scott criticized GOP rivals in the presidential race for not being strict enough on abortion.
- Scott criticized Trump for suggesting a compromise on abortion.
- Scott attacked Haley for not supporting a 15-week national abortion ban.
- Tim Scott opposed Biden’s efforts to restore Title X funding to health care providers.
- Tim Scott supported so-called “born-alive” legislation.
- Scott voted for “born-alive” legislation in the South Carolina state legislature.
- Scott supported legislation that would criminalize doctors.
- Tim Scott supported legislation aimed at restricting access to abortion for young people.
- Tim Scott supported efforts to defund and antagonize Planned Parenthood.
- Scott supported a court brief to defund Planned Parenthood in South Carolina.
- Scott said there is too much money going into Planned Parenthood.
- Tim Scott praised State laws to ban abortion as early as six weeks of pregnancy.
- Scott praised South Carolina’s six-week abortion ban.
- Scott celebrated DeSantis’ six-week abortion ban in Florida.
- Tim Scott pushed disinformation on abortion.
- Tim Scott dodged questions about his support of in-vitro fertilization despite sponsoring legislation that would have de-facto banned IVF
- Tim Scott vowed to block any legislation opposing the Hyde Amendment.
- Tim Scott co-sponsored legislation that would end federal funding for abortions on foreign soil.
- Tim Scott supported Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s efforts to hold up military promotions over military members being able to access abortion procedures with taxpayer-funded health care.
- Tim Scott introduced legislation to fund anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers using TANF funding.
- Tim Scott effectively supported increasing the waiting period to get an abortion.
- Tim Scott effectively supported banning abortion coverage through South Carolina’s state health plan.
- Tim Scott opposed protecting access to contraceptives.
¶ Scott Dismissed The Detrimental Impact Of Abortion Bans On The Economy
¶ Scott Criticized Treasury Secretary Yellen For Framing Abortion As An Economic Issue
Yellen: Abortion Bans “Would Have Very Damaging Effects On The Economy And Would Set Women Back Decades.” According to the Associated Press, “Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s appearance before a Senate committee took an unexpected and tense detour into the abortion debate Tuesday when senators questioned her about the potential impact of an abortion ban on the American economy. ‘I believe that eliminating the right of women to make decisions about when and whether to have children would have very damaging effects on the economy and would set women back decades,’ Yellen said in response to a question from Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J. He had introduced the topic with a question on how an abortion ban could financially harm women.” [Associated Press, 5/10/22]
Scott Responded Saying, “Framing It In The Labor Participation Rate Feels Callous To Me.” According to the Associated Press, “Yellen's answer drew a sharp response from Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who asked her, ‘Did you say that ending the life of a child is good for the labor force participation rate?’ ‘I think people can disagree on the issue of being ‘pro-life’ or ‘pro-abortion’ — but framing it in the labor force participation rate feels callous to me,’ he said, adding that the conversation ‘to me seems harsh.”’ [Associated Press, 5/10/22]
¶ Women Denied Abortions Were More Likely To Suffer From Financial Problems
Report Found Women Who Were Denied Abortions Were More Likely To Encounter Economic Distress. According to CBS News, “Women who are denied abortions are more likely to suffer from financial problems and rely on government aid programs like food stamps and welfare, according to a study that tracked about 1,000 women who sought abortions over a span of several years […] Unpaid debts that were overdue by 30 days or more doubled in size, and the rate of evictions, bankruptcies and other negative financial events increased substantially for women who were denied an abortion, the analysis found. The negative effects lasted as long as four years after the woman gave birth, they noted.” [CBS News, 5/9/22]
¶ Scott Has Stood Against Roe v. Wade
SCOTT PRAISED THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION TO OVERTURN THE RIGHT TO SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION
ABC News 4: “Scott Is In Full Support Of The Supreme Court’s Decision To Overturn Roe v. Wade.” According to ABC News 4, “Scott is in full support of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. ‘It’s a really simple question: It's 'should we chose life when we can?' The answer is, of course we should.’” [ABC News 4, 6/27/22]
Scott Celebrated The Supreme Court’s Decision In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
Scott Called The Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade “Historic.” According to a tweet from Scott’s campaign Twitter, “Every child deserves the precious gift of life. Since Roe v. Wade, more than 55 million Americans have never had the chance to touch our soil and experience that remarkable gift. Today's historic ruling changes that. This outcome is not about pro-choice or pro-life; it is simply about protecting 10 fingers, 10 toes, and 1 beating heart.” [Twitter, @votetimscott, 6/24/22]
Scott Praised The Supreme Court Justices Who Overturned Roe For “Their Courage In The Face Of Unprecedented Threats And Violence.” According to a press release from Sen. Scott, “Furthermore, I commend the Justices for their courage in the face of unprecedented threats and violence. Their commitment to the Constitution and refusal to bend to intimidation gives me hope for the future of our nation.” [Press Release, Tim Scott, 6/24/22]
¶ The Dobbs Decision Overturned Roe v. Wade
The Court’s Decision On Dobbs Overturned Roe v. Wade And Constitutional Protections For Abortion. According to the Chicago Tribune, “The Supreme Court ruled Friday on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case focused on a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks. With this ruling, the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision was overturned, ending constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years.” [Chicago Tribune, 6/24/22]
¶ Scott Called The Dobbs Ruling “An Important Step”
Scott Called The Supreme Court Ruling “An Important Step.” According to a press release from Sen. Scott, “U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. ‘Today, the Supreme Court took an important step to protect the God-given right to life for millions of Americans by returning the power back to the people and the states, where it belongs,’ said Senator Tim Scott. ‘A nation in which abortion is the ‘first and best’ answer for moms in challenging circumstances is a nation that has sacrificed its moral clarity and courage. America’s fundamental promises include the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Our support for babies and their mothers re-establishes those shared values that began to erode over the last several decades.’” [Press Release, Tim Scott, 6/24/22]
¶ Scott Said He Was “Thankful” To Have Supported The Justices Who Overturned Roe v. Wade In The Dobbs Decision
Scott Said He Was “Thankful” That He Was Able To Support Federal Judges And Supreme Court Justices Who Made The Overturning Of Roe v. Wade Possible According to Fox News, “I am so thankful that over the last three or four years we were able to put three hundred federal judges on the bench and three conservative Supreme Court Justices. This is the firewall that America needs. I am thankful that I was a part of making that happen.” [Fox News, 6/25/22]
Scott Said He Had “Never Been Prouder” To Support Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, And Barrett Than When They Overturned Roe v. Wade. According to an op-ed by Scott in the Des Moines Register, “One year ago this week, a generation of prayers, votes, and marches for life paid off in an historic victory. I was proud to vote to confirm Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, and I have never been prouder than I was last June 24 when they ignored the angry mobs, followed the Constitution, and overturned Roe v. Wade.” [Des Moines Register, Op-ed, 6/23/23]
¶ Scott Commemorated The Anniversary Of The Dobbs Decision
Scott: “Today, We Celebrate The Dobb’s Decision That Reversed The Culture Of Death.” According to a tweet from Senator Scott, “Every human has the right to life, the greatest gift we will ever receive. We'll never get back 63 million priceless souls of a lost generation, but today, we celebrate the Dobb's decision that reversed the culture of death.” [Twitter, @SenatorTimScott, 6/24/23]
June 2023: Scott: “The Dobbs Decision […] Allowed Our Nation To Begin Repairing A Terrible Decision.” According to an op-ed by Scott in the Des Moines Register, “The Dobbs decision further bolstered the right to life and allowed our nation to begin repairing a terrible decision.” [Des Moines Register, Op-ed, 6/23/23]
¶ Scott Signed On To An Amicus Brief Urging The Court To Overturn Roe V. Wade
Scott Signed On To Friend Of Court Brief Urging The Supreme Court To Reconsider, And Maybe Overrule, Roe. According to CNN, “More than 200 members of Congress are urging the Supreme Court to reconsider – if not overrule – the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion nationwide. Thirty-nine Republican senators and 168 members of the House of Representatives, almost all of them Republicans, signed a so-called ‘friend of the court’ brief filed on Thursday by the national anti-abortion group Americans United for Life in connection with a challenge to a Louisiana abortion access law due to be heard in March. The signers include Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Mike Lee and Mitt Romney of Utah, and Tim Scott of South Carolina as well as Reps. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Steve Chabot of Ohio. […] The brief argues that ‘Roe’s jurisprudence has been haphazard from the beginning.’ The decision ‘remains a radically unsettled precedent’ that ‘has been substantially undermined by subsequent authority,’ the group continues, adding that court rulings since Roe ‘clearly did not settle the abortion issue.’ The group urges the justices to ‘reconsider those precedents.’” [CNN, 1/2/20]
¶ Scott Supported A Federal Abortion Ban
¶ Scott Campaigned On Signing A Federal Abortion Ban As President
AUDIO: Scott Said, “Our Immediate Priority Should Be Passing A 15-Week Limit On Abortion.” According to a Scott Radio Ad via YouTube, “As President, I will sign the most pro-life legislation that reaches my desk. Our immediate priority should be passing a national 15-week limit on abortion while we support Republican-led States that do even more to protect life.” [Scott Radio Ad via YouTube, 6/29/23]
¶ Scott Promised To Support Extreme Anti-Abortion Legislation As President
Scott Vowed That He Would Sign “The Most Conservative, Pro-Life Legislation” As President. According to NBC News, “Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., promised in an interview with NBC News on Friday that if elected president, he would support the ‘most conservative pro-life legislation’ that Congress sends him, leaving open the possibility that it could be as early as six weeks but not committing to a specific time frame. ‘If I were president of the United States, I would literally sign the most conservative, pro-life legislation that they can get through Congress,’ Scott said. ‘I’m not going to talk about six or five or seven or 10,’ he added, pressed by NBC News about what the federal cutoff should be. ‘I’m just saying that whatever the most conservative legislation is that can come through Congress.’” [NBC News, 4/14/23]
VIDEO: Scott: “We Have To Have A Federal Limit On” Abortion. According to a video from Scott’s interview with WMUR, “SCOTT: I think states have to solve that problem on their own. The big problem we see today is that our Democrats want to make this a federal issue of having abortions into the third trimester. That is something that puts us in the company with China and North Korea. We cannot go there. So, we have to have a federal limit on how far we can go, and that is something that we have to discuss.” [Twitter, Video, @AdamSextonWMUR, 4/13/23]
VIDEO: Scott Said He Would Sign A 20-Week Federal Abortion Ban Into Law. According to a video from Scott’s Interview with WMUR, “INTERVIEWER: Now the Congress has passed, I think in 2013, as you would know, 2015, 2017, a late-term abortion ban. That could conceivably go all the way through now. So if that 20-week ban reached your desk, would you sign it? SCOTT: 20-week ban. Definitely.” [Twitter, Video, @AdamSextonWMUR, 4/13/23]
¶ Scott Called For A Federal Abortion Ban Of At Least 15 Weeks
Scott Said That He Would Start At A 15-Week Abortion Ban And Try To Get It More Conservative. According to KCCI, “When asked about the role of the federal government in abortion, Scott proposed a 15-week abortion ban. ‘If I was president of the United States, I would start the conversation with a limit of 15 weeks and then try my best to win the hearts and minds of Americans, to get it any more conservative,’ Scott said.” [KCCI, 6/14/23]
Scott Called For A Federal Abortion Ban Of 15 Weeks At Minimum. According to the Washington Examiner, “‘This is something that we just have to stop,’ Scott said. ‘Being one of six or seven nations that allows abortion after 15 weeks puts us in the category of China and North Korea. Cultivating a culture that protects and respects life as the president of the United States is something on which I’d want to engage the hearts and minds of the American people. A minimum ban of 15 weeks on the federal level will help us get to a place where there are fewer late-term abortions and fewer and fewer abortions. And then, hopefully, as we win the hearts and minds of the American people, we can actually have legislation that gets through Congress.’” [Washington Examiner, 6/24/23]
Scott: “If I Were President Of The United States, I Would Certainly Have A 15-Week Limit.” According to Axios, “Scott […] told Axios' Sophia Cai in Washington, D.C. Wednesday: ‘If I were president of the United States, I would certainly have a 15-week limit.” [Axios, 5/31/23]
Scott Said Congress “Should Begin With A 15-Week National” Abortion Ban
Scott: “We Should Begin With A 15-Week National” Abortion Ban. According to an op-ed by Scott in the Des Moines Register, “I am 100% pro-life. When I am president of the United States, I will sign the most pro-life legislation the House and Senate can put on my desk. We should begin with a 15-week national limit.” [Des Moines Register, Op-ed, 6/23/23]
Scott Refused To Commit To A Six-Week Abortion Ban
Scott Said He Would Support A 15-Week Abortion Ban, But Did Not Say He Would Support A Six-Week Abortion Ban. According to Axios, “Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott skirted questions during an Axios News Shapers event Wednesday about whether he would support a six-week abortion ban, but reiterated his support for a 15-week ban.” [Axios, 5/31/23]
SCOTT WAS PRAISED BY AN ANTI-ABORTION GROUP FOR VOICING HIS SUPPORT FOR A 15-WEEK BAN ON ABORTION
Scott Was Praised By Anti-Abortion Group, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, For Supporting An Abortion Ban After At Most 15 Weeks Of Pregnancy At The First GOP Primary Debate. According to ABC News, “Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson called for a federal abortion ban after 15 weeks, a standard that leading anti-abortion groups like Susan B, Anthony Pro-Life America have been pushing for. ‘Mike Pence, Tim Scott and Asa Hutchinson each offered a clear, bold case for national protections for the unborn at least by 15 weeks, when they can feel pain, which aligns with the overwhelming consensus of Americans. Additionally, those who offered the clearest contrast pointed out the Democrats' agenda of imposing abortion on demand until birth in every state, nationwide. Going on offense is essential for any candidate who wants to win in 2024,’ SBA President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement on Thursday.” [ABC News, 8/24/23]
SBA Pro-Life America President Said That Scott Was One Of The Presidential Candidates Who Did The Most For The Anti-Abortion Cause During The 2024 Republican Presidential Primary. According to the Denver Gazette, “Anti-abortion rights groups, however, are less happy with the remaining candidates on the ballot. In a media call last week, SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser told reporters the Republican candidates who did ‘the best job’ related to abortion were ‘not running anymore,’ describing former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) as ‘unmatched.’” [Denver Gazette, 1/22/24]
¶ Scott Co-Sponsored Legislation To Ban Abortion Beyond 20 Weeks Of Pregnancy
Scott Co-Sponsored The “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.” According to Congress.gov, Scott co-sponsored S. 61, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would establish, “a new criminal offense for performing or attempting to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus is 20 weeks or more.” [Congress.gov, accessed 5/11/22]
¶ Scott Co-Sponsored This Piece Of Legislation In Other Congresses
2019: Scott Co-Sponsored The “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.” [Congress.gov, accessed 5/11/22]
2017: Scott Co-Sponsored The “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.” [Congress.gov, accessed 5/11/22]
2015: Scott Co-Sponsored The “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.” [Congress.gov, accessed 5/11/22]
2013: Scott Co-Sponsored The “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.” [Congress.gov, accessed 5/11/22]
The ACLU Called The Legislation “Extreme And Unconstitutional”
ACLU: The 20-Week Abortion Ban Is “Extreme And Unconstitutional.” According to a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union addressing the House’s version of the 2017 Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, “On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and our more than two million members and supporters, we urge you to vote NO on H.R. 36, an extreme and unconstitutional nationwide pre-viability ban on abortion. We oppose H.R. 36 because it interferes with a woman’s most personal medical decisions and violates fundamental constitutional principles.” [American Civil Liberties Union, 10/2/17]
¶ Scott Criticized GOP Rivals In The Presidential Race On Abortion
SCOTT CALLED ON ALL OTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO SUPPORT A LIMIT ON ABORTIONS AT 15-WEEKS OF PREGNANCY
Scott: “All The Presidential Candidates, Whether It Is Ron, Nikki, The Former President, They Should All Join Me And Support A 15-Week Limit.” According to the Washington Examiner, “Three out of four Americans say 15 weeks is the exact right place to be as it relates to stopping radical states like New York, California, and Illinois on having abortion on demand up until the day of birth,’ Scott told Hannity. ‘That's just wrong. We, as a nation, we're better than that.’ ‘I want my entire presidential ... all the presidential candidates, whether it is Ron, Nikki, the former president, they should all join me and support a 15-week limit,’ the South Carolina senator added.” [Washington Examiner, 9/21/23]
Scott Demanded Republicans Support A 15-Week National Abortion Ban. According to the New York Daily News, “Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) slammed both of the rivals for what he called a less-than-forthright approach. He demanded that Republicans support a nationwide ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.” [New York Daily News, 11/10/23]
SCOTT CRITICIZED TRUMP FOR SUGGESTING A COMPROMISE ON ABORTION
Scott Criticized Trump For Suggesting A Compromise On Abortion. According to the Des Moines Register, “President Trump said he would negotiate with the Democrats and walk back away from what I believe we need, which is a 15-week limit on the federal level,’ Scott said. […] Nor was Trump the only candidate Scott called out by name for failing to take a strong stance on abortion. ‘Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, all along with President Trump say they will not name a week where we stop California, New York and Illinois from having abortions on demand,’ Scott said. ‘I say, not on my watch.’” [Des Moines Register, 9/19/23]
Trump Suggested A Compromise On Abortion
Trump: “I’m Going To Come Together With All Groups, And We’re Going To Have Something That’s Acceptable.” According to the Des Moines Register, “During an interview that aired Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press, Trump refused to say at what point in a pregnancy he would support a federal abortion ban. He admonished Republicans who take too hard a stance, saying ‘you're not going to win on this issue,’ and suggested instead that Republicans and Democrats can work together to put the issue behind them. ‘I’m going to come together with all groups, and we’re going to have something that’s acceptable,’ he said.” [Des Moines Register, 9/19/23]
¶ Scott Criticized Haley For Not Agreeing To A Federal 15- Week Abortion ban
¶ Scott Called Haley’s View On Abortion “Unconscionable,” “Un-American,” And At Odds With Republican Primary Voters.
AUDIO: Scott Said Haley’s Lack Of Support For A 15-Week National Abortion Ban Was “Unacceptable, Unconscionable, Un-American And Certainly Inconsistent With Republican Primary Voters.” According to the Clay and Buck Podcast via YouTube, “SCOTT: You think about where she stands on the issue of abortion, in the issue of life, not having a 15-week national limit. That means you allow for states like California and Illinois, New York, to have abortion up until the day of birth. That is unconscionable, unacceptable, un-American, and certainly inconsistent with Republican primary voters.” [Clay and Buck Podcast via SoundCloud, 10/30/23]
¶ Scott Opposed Biden-Era Efforts To Restore Title X Funding To Providers
¶ The Trump Administration Implemented A Title X Gag Rule
July 16, 2019: The Trump Administration Began Enforcing Abortion “Gag Rule.” According to Politico, “The Trump administration's decision to immediately bar family planning funds to groups, like Planned Parenthood, that perform or refer women for abortion could force some states and organizations to abandon the federal program that pays for contraception for low-income women. The administration said it will move forward with its new family planning overhaul, which critics deride as an abortion ‘gag rule,’ as it faces ongoing legal challenges from nearly two dozen states and organizations, including Planned Parenthood, the largest single recipient of funding in the program, known as Title X.” [Politico, 7/16/19]
Title X Was The Nation’s Public Family Planning Program
Title X Was The Nation’s Public Family Planning Program That Provided Birth Control Services, STI Testing, And Treatment. According to the Guttmacher Institute, “Title X is the nation’s public family planning program, serving millions of patients who seek birth control services, STI testing and treatment, and related preventive care. The program was established as part of the Public Health Service Act in 1970 with the express intent of addressing inequities in access to contraceptives and related services, helping patients advance their right to exercise power over their own reproductive decisions. For half a century, Title X has funded a long-standing and trusted network of providers throughout the country, providing these critical services to patients who are low income, uninsured, young or otherwise underserved.” [Guttmacher Institute, 2/5/20]
¶ The Gag Rule Stated That Title X Grant Funding Cannot Go To Clinicians That Discuss Abortion With Patients-Even If Those Patients Ask
The Rule Stated That Title X Grant Funding Cannot Go To Clinicians That Discuss Abortion With Patients. According to Planned Parenthood Action, “The gag rule says Title X grants can’t go to clinicians who tell their patients how they can safely and legally access abortion (even if patients ask and even if a pregnancy threatens their health). The gag rule also takes grants away from health centers that separately provide abortion — like Planned Parenthood.” [Planned Parenthood Action, Accessed 3/19/20]
Clinics Were Barred From Referring Patients To An Abortion Provider But Required To Refer Them For Prenatal Care, Regardless Of A Patient’s Wishes. According to Politico, “Clinics will now be barred from referring patients to an abortion provider but required to refer them for prenatal care, regardless of a patient's wishes. Clinics have always been banned from using Title X money for abortions, but the Trump administration argued greater separation was needed to prevent the intermingling of funds. Now, numerous state health agencies administering Title X funds, including some that are their state's lone recipient of program dollars, must decide whether to go forward with previous suggestions that they'd withdraw from Title X if the Trump rules took effect. Millions of dollars are on the line.” [Politico, 7/16/19]
Under The New Rules, Faith Based Groups Were Eligible For Federal Funding
However, Under The Rules Faith Based Groups That Opposed Abortion And Hormonal Birth Control Were Eligible For Federal Funding. According to Politico, “Faith-based groups that oppose abortion and hormonal birth control are also now eligible for funding under the rules. Earlier this year, the religiously affiliated clinic network Obria was awarded a three-year, $5.1 million grant in California. Although the group will only offer ‘natural’ family planning counseling such as abstinence and the rhythm method, it still must subcontract with clinics that provide other forms of contraception.” [Politico, 7/16/19]
¶ Trump’s Title X Gag Rule Left Communities With A Massive Federally Funded Family Planning Provider Gap
Planned Parenthood, Which Served More Than 40% Of U.S. Title X Patients Chose To Reject Funding Due To Restrictions, Leaving Large Parts Of The Country Without A Federally Funded Family Planning Provider. According to Politico, “Planned Parenthood, which serves more than 40 percent of the nation's Title X patients, confirmed Monday night it won't comply with the new rules. The group said Its clinics will start using their own emergency funds while it continues to fight the administration in court. Planned Parenthood, which still gets significant funding from Medicaid, has long been the only Title X funding recipient in Utah, and it covers a large portion of the population in several other states. Its exit from the program could leave parts of the country without a federally funded family planning provider.” [Politico, 7/16/19]
Without Planned Parenthood Clinics Supported By Title X, Other Title X Supported Sites Would Need To Increase Capabilities
Without Planned Parenthood Clinics Supported By Title X, Other Types Of Title X-Supported Sites Would Have Had to Increase Their Contraceptive Client Caseloads By 70 Percent. According to the Guttmacher Institute, “Without Planned Parenthood clinics supported by Title X, other types of Title X–supported sites would need to increase their contraceptive client caseloads by an average of 70%. This poses massive challenges for the rest of the safety-net family planning provider network.” [Guttmacher Institute, 8/29/19]
Other Title X Sites Were Not Readily Able To Replace Title X – Funded Planned Parenthood Health Centers.
[Guttmacher Institute, 8/29/19]
The Trump Administration’s Domestic Gag Rule Slashed The Title X Network’s Capacity By Half
Guttmacher Institute: Trump’s Domestic “Gag Rule” Slashed The Title X National Family Planning Network’s Patient Capacity In Half, Impacting 1.6 Million Female Patients Nationwide. According to the Guttmacher Institute, “New data from the Guttmacher Institute show that the Trump administration’s domestic ‘gag rule’ has slashed the Title X national family planning network’s patient capacity in half, jeopardizing care for 1.6 million female patients nationwide […] Based on data available for 910 of those 981 sites, we estimate that these changes reduced the network’s capacity to provide women with contraceptive services by at least 46%, translating to roughly 1.6 million patients. In other words, the impact of the gag rule on the network’s capacity is much greater than it might appear when looking at clinic numbers alone, because the gag rule intentionally targeted clinics specializing in reproductive health care services, sites that also serve the highest volume of contraceptive patients.” [Guttmacher Institute, 2/5/20]
Trump’s Domestic Gag Rule Reduced The Title X Network’s Capacity By Nearly Half Nationwide And By Much More In Many States.
[Guttmacher Institute, 2/5/20]
¶ Biden Undid The Domestic Gag Rule
October 4, 2021: The Biden Administration Announced It Would Official Reverse Trump’s Domestic Gag Rule, Effective November 2021. According to NBC News, “The Biden administration on Monday formally reversed a Trump-era rule that barred reproductive health care clinics that provide abortion referrals and services from receiving federal funds. The new rule, which will go into effect Nov. 8, paves the way for major providers like Planned Parenthood to rejoin Title X, the federal family planning program created nearly 50 years ago to fill in gaps in health care access and affordability, particularly for those living in rural or otherwise underserved areas.” [NBC News, 10/4/21]
¶ Scott Supported Legislation To Undo Biden’s Action
Scott Supported Legislative Action To Undo Biden’s Rule On Title X. According to a press release from Sen. Kevin Cramer, “U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and 30 Senate Republicans in introducing a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the Biden Administration’s 2021 Final Rule on the Title X Family Planning Program, which reversed the Trump Administration’s 2019 ban on federal funding to entities who provide abortion referrals to pregnant mothers. […] Senators Cramer and Rubio were joined by Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tim Scott (R-SC), John Boozman (R-AR), John Thune (R-SD), Steve Daines (R-MT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Braun (R-IN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Rick Scott (R-FL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), James Lankford (R-OK), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Kennedy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). ” [Sen. Kevin Cramer, Press Release, 3/18/22]
¶ Scott Supported Dangerous So-Called “Born-Alive” Legislation
¶ Scott Co-Sponsored So-Called “Born-Alive” Legislation
2021: Scott Co-Sponsored The “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.” According to Congress.gov, Scott co-sponsored the “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” which would establish, “requirements for the degree of care a health care practitioner must provide in the case of a child born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion.” [Congress.gov, accessed 5/11/22]
¶ Scott Co-Sponsored This Same Bill In Previous Congresses
2019: Scott Co-Sponsored The “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.” [Congress.gov, accessed 5/11/22]
2017: Scott Co-Sponsored The “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.” [Congress.gov, accessed 5/11/22]
2015: Scott Co-Sponsored The “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.” [Congress.gov, accessed 5/11/22]
¶ So-Called “Born-Alive” Legislation Would Unnecessarily Criminalize Doctors
Vox: “Reproductive Rights And Physician Groups Say The Bill Could Criminalize Doctors And Is Unnecessary.” According to Vox, “The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday is hearing testimony on a bill that would put in place requirements for the care of infants born after failed abortions — and could send doctors to prison if they fail to comply […] But reproductive rights and physician groups say the bill could criminalize doctors and is unnecessary — not only because a live birth after an abortion attempt is an extremely unlikely scenario but also because laws already exist to protect an infant in this instance anyway. ‘The bill maligns and vilifies providers and patients to push a false narrative about abortion later in pregnancy,’ Dr. Kristyn Brandi, a board member of Physicians for Reproductive Health, told Vox in an email last year.” [Vox, 2/25/19]
Abortions Later In Pregnancy Are Very Rare, And Are Not Requested By Patients In Labors. According to Vox, “Abortions in the third trimester are very rare: Just 1.4 percent of all abortions take place at 21 weeks or beyond, according to Planned Parenthood. The situation described in the Virginia committee hearing simply doesn’t come up, Brandi said — ‘patients do not request abortion when they are in labor and doctors do not provide it.’” [Vox, 2/25/19]
Protections Exist For Babies Born After An Attempted Abortion. According to Vox, “Even if a child were to be born after an abortion attempt, she said, laws already exist to protect the baby. In 2002, Congress passed the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which guaranteed full legal rights to infants born at any stage of development. That bill, which passed with bipartisan support, did not include criminal penalties for doctors and did not impose specific requirements on medical care.” [Vox, 2/25/19]
¶ As A State Representative, Scott Voted To Include Certain Abortions In The Definition Of “Born Alive”
2009: Scott Voted To Include Certain Abortions In The Definition Of “Born Alive” For Purposes Of Referring To “Persons,” “Human Beings,” “Children,” And “Individuals.” In February 2009, Scott voted for House Bill 3342. The bill, according to the South Carolina Legislature, “amended [the Code] to read: [...] (1) In determining the meaning of any act or joint resolution of the General Assembly or in a regulation promulgated pursuant to Article 1, Chapter 23, Title 1, the words ‘person’, ‘human being’, ‘child’, and ‘individual’, must include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. (2) As used in this subsection, the term ‘born alive’, with respect to a member of the species homo sapiens, means the complete expulsion or extraction from the mother of that member, at any stage of development, who after the expulsion or extraction breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut, and regardless of whether the expulsion or extraction occurs as a result of natural or induced labor, cesarean section, or induced abortion.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 100 to 8, thus, it was sent to the Senate where it died. [South Carolina Legislature, 2/26/09; South Carolina Legislature, Accessed On 6/5/24; South Carolina Legislature, H. 3342]
¶ Scott Backed Legislation To Keep Young People From Accessing Abortion
¶ Scott Co-Sponsored A “Child Interstate Abortion Notification” Bill
2021: Scott Co-Sponsored The “Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act.” According to Congress.gov, Scott co-sponsored the “Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act,” which would make “it a crime to knowingly transport a minor across a state line to obtain an abortion without satisfying the requirements of a parental involvement law in the minor's resident state.” [Congress.gov, accessed 5/11/22]
Scott Co-Sponsored Versions Of This Bill In Previous Congresses
2019: Scott Co-Sponsored The “Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act.” [Congress.gov, accessed 5/11/22]
2017: Scott Co-Sponsored The “Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act.” [Congress.gov, accessed 5/11/22]
2013: Scott Co-Sponsored The “Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act.” [Congress.gov, accessed 5/11/22]
¶ Scott Supported Efforts To “Defund” And Antagonize Planned Parenthood
¶ Scott Supported Court Brief To Defund Planned Parenthood In South Carolina
Scott Signed On To Court Brief Supporting The Defunding Of Planned Parenthood In South Carolina. According to a press release from Rep. Jeff Duncan, “Washington, D.C. Congressman Jeff Duncan, Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Tim Scott, and Congressman Ralph Norman, along with 133 other Members of Congress, filed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of states' authority to choose Medicaid providers and defund Planned Parenthood. […] ‘The intent of Congress has been to give states flexibility in deciding who is qualified to provide Medicaid services. The people of South Carolina do not want their taxpayer dollars going to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood, and that should be respected,’ said Senator Tim Scott.” [Rep. Jeff Duncan, Press Release, 4/29/20]
¶ Scott Supported Defunding Planned Parenthood And Repealing The Affordable Care Act
VIDEO: Scott Advocated For Repealing The Affordable Care Act And Defunding Planned Parenthood. According to a video via CNN, “SCOTT: The truth is if we were to eliminate all funding for Planned Parenthood, as an example, we’d save around 300 million dollars for the taxpayers. […] We are making positive steps in the right direction as it relates to repealing Obamacare. […] We are looking to want to protect the sacred relationship between a patient and a doctor.” [CNN, Video, 1/21/11]
¶ Scott Said There Is Too Much Money Going to Planned Parenthood
Scott: “We See Way Too Much Money Going To Planned Parenthood.” According to the Washington Examiner, “‘We see way too much money going to Planned Parenthood,’ Scott said. ‘Let’s divert some of these resources in order to give women a choice. … This would do more to help single moms like the one who raised me in a single-parent household in poverty. Healthcare and assistance after birth is necessary to encourage and increase the likelihood that a woman would make the decision for life.” [Washington Examiner, 6/24/23]
¶ Scott Praised State Laws To Ban Abortion As Early As Six Weeks Of Pregnancy
¶ Scott Praised South Carolina’s Six-Week Abortion Ban
Scott On South Carolina’s Six-Week Abortion Ban: “The State Is Trying To Protect The Culture Of Life, And That’s Good News.” According to The Hill, “South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, says the state’s recently passed six-week abortion ban is ‘good news.’ ‘The state is trying to protect the culture of life, and that’s good news. I mean, the heartbeat bill is a step in the direction of that,’ Scott said Wednesday in response to a question from South Carolina Education Television host Gavin Jackson.” [The Hill, 5/25/23]
¶ Scott Celebrated DeSantis’ Six-Week Abortion Ban
Scott’s Celebrated DeSantis Signing A Six-Week Abortion Ban In Florida. According to NBC News, “Scott also responded for the first time to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signing Florida’s six-week abortion ban into law on Thursday, saying that the anti-abortion legislation should be celebrated. ‘As the culture of life is being protected, we should celebrate that,’ he said. ‘States will have different varying views on that.’” [NBC News, 4/14/23]
¶ Scott Pushed Disinformation On Abortion
¶ Scott Falsely Claimed Democrats Would Support Abortions Up To 52 Weeks Into A Pregnancy, Despite A Typical Pregnancy Only Lasting 40 Weeks
Scott Claimed Democrats Want Abortions Up To 52 Weeks, Despite 40-Week Timeline For Full-Term Pregnancy. According to HuffPost, “In his latest fundraising email, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) paints a very dark picture for the GOP if the party doesn’t win back the Senate in November. ‘If we don’t take back the Senate, Dems will pack the courts, give DC statehood, grant abortions up to 52 weeks, and Republicans will never win again,’ he wrote to supporters Monday. […] ‘A full-term pregnancy is approximately 40 weeks,’ Dr. Meera Shah, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, told HuffPost.” [HuffPost, 8/8/22]
Scott’s Office Did Not Return Comments On 52-Week Abortion Statement. According to HuffPost, “It’s really not clear why Scott cited 52 weeks, and his office did not return a request for comment.” [HuffPost, 8/8/22]
Scott Dodged Questions About His Support Of In-Vitro Fertilization Despite Supporting Legislation That Would Have De-Facto Banned Abortion
Scott Would Not State Whether He Supported The Alabama Supreme Court Ruling About In-Vitro Fertilization. According to MSNBC, “For some, however, the challenge is especially acute. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, for example, is auditioning to be Donald Trump’s running mate, and he’s hit the campaign trail in support of the former president. At his latest press conference, the Republican was asked whether he agreed with the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling. ‘Well, I haven’t studied the issue,’ the senator replied.” [MSNBC, 2/23/24]
Scott Claimed He Had Not Studied The Issue Of In-Vitro Fertilization Despite Co-Sponsoring A Fetal “Personhood” Bill. According to MSNBC, “But if the Republican was suggesting he hasn’t studied the broader issue, there’s some compelling evidence to the contrary. In fact, as recently as 2021, several GOP senators co-sponsored a federal ‘personhood’ bill — Sen. Rand Paul’s ‘Life at Conception Act’ — which was designed to extend personhood rights at the moment of conception. The legislation, which did not receive a vote and was never seriously considered, faced ample opposition, including from those who raised an obvious point: The consequences of such a law would, among other things, effectively ban in vitro fertilization. If Tim Scott hasn’t ‘studied the issue,’ why did he co-sponsor federal legislation that would’ve had the same effects of the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that he doesn’t want to talk about?” [MSNBC, 2/23/24]
¶ Scott Promised To Defend The Hyde Amendment
¶ Scott Vowed To Block Any Legislation Aiming To Subvert The Hyde Amendment
Scott Joined GOP Colleagues In A Letter To Sen. Schumer Expressing Defense Of The Hyde Amendment. According to a press release from Sen. Scott, “Today, U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.) sent a letter signed by 45 other pro-life senators to Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, pledging that they will vote to block any bill that would undermine the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding for abortion, or any other pro-life protections. ‘We write to express our unwavering support for the Hyde Amendment and all other longstanding pro-life protections. For more than 45 years, the Hyde Amendment has ensured that taxpayer dollars are not used to fund abortions, saving the lives of nearly 2.5 million preborn children. As you know, the Hyde Amendment is supported by both a substantial majority of the American public and a bipartisan majority of sitting United States Senators, and was most recently signed into law by President Biden…’ the senators write.” [Press Release, 6/1/22]
¶ Scott Co-Sponsored Legislation To End Funding Abortion Overseas
¶ Scott Co-Sponsored Legislation That Called To End Funding Of Abortions On Foreign Soil
Scott Co-Sponsored The Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act; Which Called To End Funding Of Abortions On Foreign Soil. According to Senator Rand Paul’s Senate Page, “Recently, U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act to ensure that foreign aid is not funding or promoting abortions overseas. […] , Tim Scott (R-SC), also cosponsored the legislation.” [Press Release, Rand Paul, U.S. Senate, Accessed, 1/29/24]
¶ Scott Supported Sen. Tuberville’s Refusal To Pass Military Promotions Over Abortion Policy
¶ Scott Supported Sen. Tuberville’s Hold Up Of Military Promotions Over Abortion
AUDIO: Scott Said That Tuberville Was Right To Hold Up Military Promotions Over Biden’s Abortion Policy. According to the Brian Kilmeade Show, “SCOTT: Eliminating the current debate over abortion is something the President of the United States can do right this very moment on his own, no action from Congress. Just do what the law says. KILMEADE: You’re with Tuberville? SCOTT: He is right on his issues.” [Fox News Radio, 11/2/23]
¶ Tuberville Held Up Military Promotions Because He Objected To Service Members Being Reimbursed Costs For Out-Of-State Abortion Care
Tuberville Held Up Military Promotions Because Of A Defense Department Policy That Reimbursed Service Members For Out-Of-State Travel Costs To Receive Abortions. According to USA Today, “Tuberville has single-handedly put on pause over 300 military nominations and promotions in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy that reimburses service members for out-of-state travel costs to receive abortions. Tuberville has argued the policy violates the Hyde amendment, which bars federal funding from being used to pay for most abortions, even though the policy only pays for travel and not the procedure itself.” [USA Today, 9/10/23]
¶ Scott Introduced Legislation To Fund Anti-Abortion Crisis Pregnancy Centers Using TANF Funding
SCOTT ADVOCATED FOR HIS LEGISLATION THAT SOUGHT TO FUND ANTI-ABORTION PREGNANCY CENTERS
Scott Promoted His Proposed Legislation That Would Allow States To Use TANF Funding For Anti-Abortion Pregnancy Centers. According to Scott via his Senate Twitter, “Protecting life starts with supporting moms. My legislation lifts up struggling mothers by protecting funding for pregnancy centers. I am proud to fight for these centers of life that support mothers and their babies.” [Scott via Twitter, 2/7/24]
SCOTT INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO FUND ANTI-ABORTION, CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS
Scott’s Legislation Was Aimed At Undoing Biden Administration Policy On TANF Funds
Scott’s Legislation Would Override A Biden Administration Order That Forbid States From Using TANF Funds For Crisis Pregnancy Centers. According to Scott’s Senate website, “Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) introduced the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act to protect the use of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for pregnancy centers. On October 2, 2023, the Biden administration issued a proposed rule to amend TANF program regulations, which could restrict states from using TANF funding for pregnancy centers.” [Senator Scott’s website, 2/6/24]
Scott Revealed Religious And Anti-Abortion Motivation Behind The Legislation
Scott Claimed His Legislation Would Help Do “The Lord’s Work.” According to Scott’s Senate website, “I’m proud to join this effort to allow pregnancy centers to continue doing the Lord’s work and providing hope for families struggling to make ends meet.” [Senator Scott’s website, 2/6/24]
Scott’s House Counterpart Said They Supported These Centers Because They Do Not “Push Abortion” On Women. According to Representative Fischbach via Scott’s Senate website, “Women who face an unexpected pregnancy should be able to safely go into a facility that is not going to push abortion on them and instead provide them with the education and support they need. […] Make no mistake, conservatives are here for unborn children and their mothers, and we want to ensure an expectant mother is empowered to raise her family. Thank you to Senator Scott for leading this bill in the Senate to continue vital support for women in communities across the country.” [Senator Scott’s website, 2/6/24]
Scott’s Legislation Was Supported By National Anti-Abortion Groups. According to Scott’s Senate website, “The legislation is supported by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, National Right to Life, Americans United for Life and Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee.” [Senator Scott’s website, 2/6/24]
¶ Scott Effectively Supported Increasing The Waiting Period For An Abortion
¶ Scott Effectively Supported Increasing The Waiting Period For An Abortion From 60 Minutes To 24 Hours
2009: Scott Effectively Voted To Increase The Waiting Period For An Abortion After The Completion Of An Ultrasound And The Receipt Of Written Materials From 60 Minutes To 24 Hours. In February 2009, Scott voted to proceed to debate on H. 3245. The bill, according to the South Carolina Legislature, “provide[d] that if an ultrasound is performed, an abortion must not be performed sooner than twenty-four hours, rather than sixty minutes, following the completion of the ultrasound, to require the woman to be informed of the procedure to be involved and the probable gestational age of the embryo or fetus, and to provide that an abortion may not be performed sooner than twenty-four hours, rather than one hour, after the woman receives certain written materials.” The motion was agreed to by a vote of 74 to 26 and the bill was ultimately signed into law. [South Carolina Legislature, 2/10/09; South Carolina Legislature, H. 3245]
¶ Scott Effectively Supported Banning Abortion Coverage In State Health Plans
¶ Scott Effectively Supported Banning Abortion Coverage Through The South Carolina Health Plan
2009: Tim Scott Effectively Voted To Ban Abortion Coverage Through The State Health Plan In The Case Of Rape, Incest, Or For The Life Of The Mother. In March 2009, Scott voted against tabling Amendment No. 147 to House Bill 3560. The amendment, according to the South Carolina Legislature, “amended, Part IB, Section 80C, B&C BD-EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, page 487, paragraph 80C.2., lines 12-13, by striking: except in cases of rape, incest, or where the life of the mother is in jeopardy.” The underlying language prohibited insurance coverage for abortions under the state health plan for state employees. The House rejected the motion to table by a vote of 41 to 63, however, the amendment was ultimately defeated. [South Carolina Legislature, 3/10/09; South Carolina Legislature, H. 3560]
¶ Scott Opposed Protecting Access To Contraception
¶ Scott Voted Against Protecting Access To Contraception
2024: Scott Voted Against Protecting Access To Contraceptives. According to the Huffington Post, “Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) pointed to Democrats and largely declined to answer when asked why he joined fellow Republicans in blocking a bill that would guarantee access to contraceptives on Wednesday. ‘Why vote nay and explain how that’s not a bad issue for Republicans?’ Fox News host Bret Baier asked. Scott, who is reportedly being considered as former President Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate, argued that people already have access to contraceptives, claimed that ‘will continue,’ and accused Democrats of politicizing the issue. Then, he changed the subject to abortion.” [Huffington Post, 6/5/24]