Senators Charge That Ineligible Organizations Took $83 Million In COVID Stimulus Money

Senators Charge That Planned Parenthood ‘Illegally’ Took $83 Million In COVID Stimulus Money

Senators Washington Examiner
by Paul Bedard
March 26, 2021
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/planned-parenthood-illegally-took-83-million-in-covid-stimulus-senators

Fed up with Planned Parenthood affiliates continuing to receive coronavirus stimulus money “illegally,” several Senate Republicans — including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — are demanding an investigation into why the Small Business Administration continues to write checks to the outfit.

In a letter to SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman, 25 GOP senators said that the affiliates have received $83 million and apparently continue to get money through the Paycheck Protection Program when the rules state they are ineligible.

What’s more, it said that SBA is providing PPP money even after telling Planned Parenthood affiliates that they were not eligible for the money and demanded it be returned. Only seven of 38 affiliates have complied.

“It is unconscionable that SBA continues to approve PPP loans made to organizations which are clearly ineligible for funding,” the letter said of the money going to the women’s health and abortion clinics. “This is unacceptable,” it added in calling for an investigation into why the money continues to be provided.

The letter, shared with Secrets, is shown below. Among others that signed it are Indiana Sen. Mike Braun, South Dakota Sen. John Thune and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso.

Since the program began last year, GOP senators have been demanding that SBA follow the rules that prohibit big companies and organizations from receiving the small business payroll loans, which are really grants that are not expected to be paid back.

When the PPP program was established, the rules prohibited organizations with more than 500 employees, including affiliates, from receiving the money set aside for small shops. According to the senators, Planned Parenthood has 16,000 employees and assets of nearly $2 billion.

The lawmakers said they are concerned that in the latest extension of the program, that Planned Parenthood affiliates are still being given the money. They wrote, “We are concerned that this extension will give remaining Planned Parenthood affiliates time to illegally obtain funds from the program as the SBA has yet to take action on this issue.”

Read the full letter:

FOOTNOTE: This article was sent to the City-County Observer by the office of Indiana United States Mike Braun.  We posted this article without editing or bias.