Show-Me State Times

In a recent hearing, Senator Josh Hawley engaged with Department of Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., on several significant social issues. The discussion focused on gender-affirming care, fetal tissue research, Title X funding for abortions, and the chemical abortion drug mifepristone.

Senator Hawley questioned Kennedy about the Biden Administration's mandate requiring doctors receiving federal funding to prescribe puberty blockers and perform gender transition surgeries on minors. Hawley emphasized that this rule aimed to override state laws. "This rule purported to preempt all state law," Senator Hawley stated. He expressed approval upon hearing Kennedy's intention to rescind the rule.

Additionally, Kennedy assured Senator Hawley that he would reinstate a policy from the Trump administration ensuring that no federal tax dollars would support National Institutes of Health (NIH) research using human fetal tissue from elective abortions.

Furthermore, commitments were made by Kennedy to reestablish a Trump-era rule preventing Title X taxpayer dollars from being allocated to entities like Planned Parenthood that provide or refer for abortions. Kennedy also agreed to implement policies concerning mifepristone, a chemical abortion drug distributed under the Biden Administration's directive.

Senator Hawley has consistently advocated for protecting minors from gender transition procedures and defending unborn life. Recently, he introduced legislation titled the Jamie Reed Protecting Our Kids from Child Abuse Act. This act aims to enable lawsuits against individuals and entities involved in gender-transition procedures performed on minors.

Earlier in January, Senator Hawley proposed additional legislation: the End Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Providers Act and the Defense of Conscience in Healthcare Act. These initiatives seek to defund Planned Parenthood and protect healthcare providers' conscience rights.