Planned Parenthood Denounces Attacks on Women’s Health Approved in House Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, DC — Planned Parenthood today denounced an anti-women’s health provision approved by the House Appropriations Committee that would ban the use of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funds for abortion except in cases of rape, incest and life endangerment. The amendment, which passed as part of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, also goes one step beyond current ICE policy to allow non-medical personnel to interfere with immigrant women’s access to care, without any exceptions. Planned Parenthood urges the Senate to reject the inclusion of such language in its version of the bill.

Statement by Cecile Richards, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“It is disappointing that some members of Congress continue to play politics and attack women’s health. This dangerous and misguided provision disallows access to the full legal range of reproductive health care for women, including access to abortion services, and would allow non-medical personnel to block a woman’s ability to access the information and care she needs for her pregnancy — even in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment.

“An immigrant woman in a detention facility already has limited options and there is no need to erect additional barriers that would deny a woman access to safe and legal abortion. The bottom line is that a woman and her doctor, not politicians, should make decisions when it comes to her pregnancy. Politicians have no business attacking women’s access to safe, legal abortion as part of a national security funding bill, and we encourage the Senate to reject any such efforts when they consider this legislation.”

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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 700 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.