On May 26, the House approved, 234-185, a bill to repeal mandatory funding for graduate medical education (H.R. 1216).
Sponsored by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), the bill would convert the $46 million (FY2012-2015) established in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) to expand or establish programs that provide training for medical residents from a mandatory appropriation into an authorization. The bill also would rescind any unspent funds.
During consideration of the bill, the House adopted, 234-182, an amendment by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) to prohibit the funds from being used to provide abortions or to train medical residents in the provision of abortions. The amendment also would prohibit funds from being paid to teaching facilities that discriminate against individuals or institutions that refuse to provide abortions, undergo training to provide abortions, or refer for abortion services.
