Senate

McConnell fast-tracks bill to freeze Planned Parenthood funding

by Jordain Carney - 09/22/15 10:23 AM ET

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday fast-tracked a bill that would block federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

The Republican leader finished the fast-track process, which was started on Monday night, that will allow the House-passed bill to skip the committee process and go directly to the Senate floor, where it could be brought up for a vote.

{mosads}The legislation, which passed the House last week by a 241-187 vote, would place a one-year freeze on federal funding for the organization, giving lawmakers more time to investigate claims of wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood made in a string of controversial videos.

Senate Republicans also finished the fast-track process on legislation that would tighten restrictions on abortion doctors who violate infant protections.

While the bills haven’t been teed up for a vote, the moves come as lawmakers face a looming end-of-the-month deadline to pass legislation that would fund the government.

Republican leadership is under pressure from conservative members to use the government spending bill to defund Planned Parenthood.

Dozens of House Republicans, as well as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a candidate for the White House next year, have suggested they will not support a government funding bill that also funds the organization.

Tags Mitch McConnell Ted Cruz