On Friday, the Republican-led House approved the amendment offered by Rep. Mike Pence to a giant spending bill that would prohibit federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
Legislators must make more than $50 billion in cuts before the end of the fiscal year but observers say it is unlikely the bill will be supported by the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Still, the heated debate in Washington this week over money to the national agency, as well as the action Friday, has local agencies worried.
"We're the safety net. That's the thing that boggles our mind," said Lori Lamerand, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Mid and South Michigan. "In punishing Planned Parenthood … what is going to happen to these women?"
Pence, R-Ind., also has introduced legislation that would deprive the organization of funding used for contraception, cancer screenings and health services for low-income patients. His amendment went a step further by depriving the organization of all federal funds. Planned Parenthood receives funding from federal, state and local government grants. The measure was approved 240-185, with several Democrats joining Republicans.
Pence has made himself the leader of an effort to defund Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest provider of abortions and longtime target of abortion foes.
Lamerand said the organization is banned from using federal funds to perform most abortions.
The state Department of Community Health, which administers the federal Title X dollars, is watching the progress.
"Is there a concern?" said spokesman James McCurtis. "I guess we have to wait and see."
He added that Title X dollars have been at risk in the past when new federal legislators arrived.
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