Minnesota Native Joins Members of Congress to Speak Out on the Importance of Planned Parenthood’s Title X Clinics for Rural Women

On Tuesday, February 15, Minnesota native Deb Zupke (pictured speaking below) will take part in a D.C. press conference about the importance of Planned Parenthood’s Title X family planning clinics to the health of women across the country.

The press conference will take place tomorrow from 10 to 11 a.m. EST at 2218 Rayburn House Office Building.

Zupke will join members of Congress, including Rep. Rosa DeLauro, ranking member of Labor HHS Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and others. Deb Zupke, a Mankato native, will speak at a D.C. press conference, sharing her personal story of how a Planned Parenthood Title X clinic was vital in protecting her health and played a role in saving the life of her sister.

Zupke’s sister was diagnosed with early stage cervical cancer at Planned Parenthood. Early detection and treatment is critical to overcoming the disease.

Like many rural Minnesotans, Zupke and her sisters relied on Planned Parenthood clinics for primary, preventive health care.

“Had there not been a provider like Planned Parenthood, my sisters and I most likely would not have received regular exams, been informed about sexual health or had access to birth control, “said Zupke. “We all have college degrees, are married and have children. This is in no small part due to the care and information that Planned Parenthood provided to us,” Zupke said.

Under the guise of deficit reduction, House leaders are working to end Title X, a popular bipartisan family planning program established during the Nixon era that prevents unintended pregnancy and provides essential health care. If Title X is eliminated, thousands of Minnesotans will lose access to basic primary and preventive health care.

Zupke (third from right) will be joined on the hill by PPMNS President and CEO Sarah Stoesz. “Ms. Zupke’s story is proof positive that cutting Title X family planning programs has real impact on real women,” said Stoesz. “Gutting this program means that more women will go untreated and will discover too late that they have cancer,” Stoesz said.

In Minnesota, Planned Parenthood's 21 Title X-supported clinics -- which serve communities from Bemidji to Fairmont -- provide birth control, breast and cervical cancer screenings, pelvic exams and pap smears, high blood pressure, diabetes and anemia screening, testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, basic infertility services, pregnancy testing, and comprehensive health education.