Sequester Cuts Could Restrict Women’s Access to Health Care, Says Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards released the following statement after the White House released a new report on the impact of automatic budget cuts known as “sequestration” that will kick in if Congress does not reach a debt reduction agreement. The non-defense discretionary spending would include cuts to funding for the Title X family planning program, the Title V maternal and child health program and other critical women’s health programs, some of which help fund Planned Parenthood services, including preventive care such as birth control, cancer screenings and sexual health education programs.
 
“Today’s report demonstrates just how devastating sequestration budget cuts would be for women and families across the country. With public health programs such as Title X taking as much as a $24 million cut, this could have a serious impact on women’s access to birth control and life saving health care, including cancer screenings. Congress can and should pass deficit reduction proposals that reduce our nation's debt without undermining people's access to basic health care services.”