But not all those who voted in favor of the motion to proceed support the legislation itself. Sen. Susan Collins said she wanted it to be subject to debate, particularly so she could offer up a substitute defunding only the Planned Parenthood clinics found to procure and sell fetal tissue, a much narrower range.
"It would be better if we got on the bill, debated it freely and had the ability to offer alternatives to it. This bill goes too far," the Maine Republican said. "I think we should keep in mind that it would immediately defund all Planned Parenthood clinics, including the majority that have complied with federal law and that are not under suspicion of having sold fetal tissue."
She also said it is not true that women utilizing Planned Parenthood's services could transition to other health care providers. If her substitute was not adopted during the amendment process, she said she would vote against the legislation in its current form.
After the release of the first video, Congress acted quickly, with several committees launching investigations into the videos and Planned Parenthood. The discussion then escalated; it did not take long for conservative members of the House and the Senate to start talking about removing Planned Parenthood funding from spending bills, and taking the fight all the way to a government shutdown if need be.
"I'd be willing to shut the government down over human life," Rep. Phil Roe, chairman of the Doctors Caucus, said last month. Republican leadership says the issue is not going to shut down the government.
Democrats are by and large standing by Planned Parenthood, dismissing attacks against it as yet another example of Republicans being anti-women. But some, including Hillary Clinton, have denounced the videos themselves. Clinton described the images as "disturbing," although continues to pledge her support of the organization.
And Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin broke from his party to vote with Republicans in favor of ending funding.
"Until these allegations have been answered and resolved, I do not believe that taxpayer money should be used to fund this organization; instead those funds should be sent to other health care providers, including community health centers, which provide important women's health care services," Manchin wrote in a statement prior to the vote on Monday.
In both parties, this might be a risky fight for members from purple states, particularly those up for reelection next year.
On the other hand, it's great fodder for GOP presidential candidates touting their conservative muscles, who have taken to attacking Planned Parenthood, and some of them are trying to ensure they have a hand in its takedown. Paul and Sen. Ted Cruz submitted amendments to last week's highway legislation that would have defunded Planned Parenthood, although McConnell prevented them from coming to the floor for a vote. The debate is expected to continue on the campaign trail.
