Planned Parenthood Applauds Senate Bipartisan Effort to Protect Women’s Access to Healthcare

Senate Appropriations Supports Key Reproductive Health Programs in Funding Bill 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Planned Parenthood Federation of America praised today’s Senate Appropriations Committee approval of a funding bill that protects access to basic health care for women and families. The bill blocks many of the dangerous attacks on reproductive health programs such as Title X, teen pregnancy prevention programs, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Adolescent School Health program — unlike the version of the House of Representatives’ FY 2019 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (Labor-HHS). However, the committee also approved a 40 percent increase in funding for abstinence-only programs, found by  scientific research to be ineffective and potentially filled with false and misleading information. Planned Parenthood commends this bipartisan bill that protects critical family planning programs.

Statement of Dana Singiser, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

The Trump-Pence administration and their allies are attacking women’s access to health care at every turn, but thankfully champions in Congress are working to protect the basic care that women and families across the country need. Providing people with access to birth control and evidenced-based sex education is common sense. We’re glad to see members of the Senate Appropriations Committee recognize that, and are working to advance the best interests of women and families. 

“Despite efforts of anti-women's health politicians, the bill passed by the committee today protects Title X — the nation’s only federal program for birth control that four million people count on each year — and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs that provides young people the tools to plan for their futures. We applaud Senator Murray’s steadfast leadership in protecting these critical reproductive health programs. We should continue to invest in the proven policies that have led to historic lows in the rates of unintended pregnancy across the country.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.