The House of Representatives voted Friday to block all federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year, according to The Wall Street Journal. The vote passed 241-187, almost strictly along party lines.
The decision is a hollow victory for the House, as the legislation is not likely to go much farther than this. There are enough Senate Democrats to block the legislation, however, and President Barack Obama has said that he will use a veto if needed.
A series of videos released by an anti-abortion group has fueled the recent Planned Parenthood debate, WSJ reported. The videos allege that the organization made money by selling fetal tissues to research labs, which Planned Parenthood has denied.
Planned Parenthood receives about $450 annually in federal funding, but almost no federal funding is used for abortions. The organization has almost 700 clinics in the U.S.
The Congressional Budget office estimated that around 630,000 people would lose access to health care if the bill to defund Planned Parenthood passes, according to Inquisitr.
"Planned Parenthood uses both federal and non-federal funds to prove a range of important preventive care and health services, including health screenings, vaccinations, and check-ups to millions of men and women who visit their health centers annually. Longstanding federal policy already prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions, except in cases of rape or incest or when the life of a woman would be endangered," the White House said in a statement.
Only two Democrats voted to freeze funding on Planned Parenthood for a year, along with most of the House Republicans, The Hill reported.
