WASHINGTON – Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today voted for a resolution to block federal funding for Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider responsible for more than 27 percent of the abortions in the U.S. in 2009 alone.

“Like most Utahns and other Americans, I hold the sanctity of human life in the highest regard. As stated in the Declaration of Independence, the right to life is the foundation of our constitutional system and is the bedrock principle upon which this nation is founded,” said Hatch, who voted for H. Con. Res. 36 to defund Planned Parenthood. “Therefore, I have grave concerns with abortion providers receiving federal funds. With our nation more than $14 trillion in debt, the first thing we should be doing is cutting unnecessary and harmful Washington spending. The last thing the federal government should be doing is using taxpayer dollars to fund an organization that performs abortions. When we are looking to find any and all ways to force our nation to live within its means, targeting this controversial funding just makes sense.”

Planned Parenthood received roughly $363 million in federal, state and local grants between 2008 and 2009. In its latest report, the nonprofit agency placed its nets assets at nearly $1 billion and reported a net revenue surplus of more than $63 million. The senator said Planned Parenthood and its affiliates are capable of raising their own funds, but should not receive any tax dollars.