Washington, D.C. — Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Republican Leader of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, led 12 U.S. Senators and 64 U.S. Representatives to stand against attacks on life.

“As a pro-life physician serving in Congress, my career has been driven by the conviction that all life has meaningful potential,” said Dr. Burgess. “At a time when states’ rights are under constant attack in the courts, I am grateful to fellow Members of Congress who have joined my efforts to defend each state’s ability to stand up for life. Texans can count on me to continue fighting to protect every unborn child’s right to life and to ensure that no taxpayer funds are used for abortions.”

Alongside 76 fellow pro-life leaders, Dr. Burgess sent an amicus brief urging the en banc Fifth Circuit to rehear the Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas Family Planning & Preventative Health Services v. Phillips case and uphold states’ sovereign power to determine Medicaid provider qualifications and exclusions that fit the needs of their citizens, including the ability of states to defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. The amicus brief has wide support from the pro-life community.

“We thank Congressman Burgess and our pro-life allies for their leadership on this important case. No state should be forced to funnel taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars to abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood – which takes the lives of more than 332,000 unborn children a year and faces investigation for its role in the harvest and sale of baby body parts – when there are abundant, life-affirming health care alternatives,” said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “We are optimistic that the 5th Circuit will uphold Texas and other pro-life states’ right to redirect tax dollars away from the abortion industry.”

“Americans United for Life applauds Representative Burgess for his efforts in gathering Member support to explain to the Fifth Circuit the congressional intent behind the Medicaid Act—namely, that Medicaid patients do not have a right to sue over a state’s determination to disqualify a Medicaid provider in federal court,” said Americans United for Life Litigation Counsel Rachel Morrison. “This case is an important next step in allowing states to defund abortion providers under their state Medicaid programs and Texas to send the message that Planned Parenthood’s illegal and unethical behavior concerning aborted fetal body parts is something that the State does not support.”

For a full list of cosigners, please see the complete amicus brief.