East Central Reporter

U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) has expressed her opposition to taxpayer funding for President Joe Biden’s Office of Population Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically criticizing its promotion of gender transition procedures for children and Title X Abortion Resources. The funds under scrutiny are being managed by Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine.

“Taxpayers should NOT fund an office that promotes abortion procedures and encourages transgender surgeries for CHILDREN!” Miller said on Facebook.

The controversy stirred by Rep. Miller's statement was further amplified during a recent House floor meeting. Miller addressed the issue on the House floor: 

"I rise today in support of my amendment to prohibit funding of Biden’s Office of Population Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services," she said. "This office is used by Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine to promote gender transition procedures for children and Title ten Abortion Resources with taxpayer dollars. The Office of Population Affairs released a guide called, quote, Gender Affirming Care and young people to sidestep parents and provide children with information on chemical castration, drugs, and surgical castration procedures."

"Federal tax dollars are used by the Office of Population Affairs to run a website called Find a Family Planning Clinic that links to abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood. The Biden administration uses the Office of Population Affairs to promote a radical transgender agenda while preying on vulnerable children. My amendment to the HHS appropriations bill would define this deeply political office."

Amid these heated discussions about medical ethics, some industry insiders have voiced their own concerns about current practices. Miller’s comments come as it becomes increasingly clear that gender-transitioning young children involves serious ethical concerns.

Jamie Reed, 42, a former caseworker at Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, turned whistleblower earlier this year questioning the practice and ethics of transitioning young children.

Reed raised concerns about a transgender clinic in St. Louis hastily prescribing hormone drugs to children, has been vindicated as the New York Times confirmed elements of her allegations.

She initially made explosive claims in February stating that the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital lacked oversight in prescribing hormone drugs to young patients, including those with psychiatric issues.

The New York Times, after speaking with dozens of patients and reviewing documents, confirmed issues in the center’s care plans, including inadequate mental health oversight, failure to assist those regretting transitions, and reliance on external therapists with little gender issue experience for patient vetting.

Reed’s allegations had prompted investigations by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Senator Josh Hawley according to the New York Post.

Meanwhile, some states are taking direct action to support gender reassignment procedures for young children. In Illinois, Gov. J.B Pritzker through a non-profit foundation has directly funded gender reassignment of children at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago for children as young as five years old.

Lurie Children’s Hospital has distributed materials and held training sessions promoting gender theory and sexually explicit content in several Chicago-area school systems.

The hospital was accused of promoting gender ideology and providing materials to schools promoting radical gender theory according to Prairie State Wire.

Billboard Chris, a father who opposes gender ideology protested outside the hospital claiming that children cannot give informed consent to the use of puberty blockers and that gender ideology is based on stereotypes.