Planned Parenthood on the President’s Budget: "This Is Not Investing In Women’s Health"

WASHINGTON - Today  President Donald Trump unveiled his Fiscal Year 2018 budget outline. The outline includes drastic cuts to government programs, including health, education, the State Department, and USAID, among many others. At the same time, it  increases immigration enforcement  efforts that will  rip families apart and sow fear in immigrant communities across the country. In doing both, it attacks women, girls, and underserved populations.  

Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Issued the Following Statement:

“Instead of investing in women’s health, this budget leaves women, girls and underserved populations by the wayside. Let’s talk about what it really means to invest in women’s health:  increase funding for access to birth control and family planning services, invest in comprehensive sex education, protect access to safe and legal abortion, and investing in policies that allow women to raise their children free from the threat of deportation or separation

“Women have made tremendous progress in this country. Thanks to better access to family planning and information, we are at a historic low in teen pregnancy, and a 30-year low in unintended pregnancy. We should continue that progress - not let this Administration take us backwards.   

“Instead of investing in women’s health as promised, this budget cuts funding for critical health and education programs, and increases investment in programs that will rip families apart and sow fear in immigrant communities across the country. We know what happens when communities that already face barriers in accessing care are driven further into the shadows — they must forsake the care they need to preserve their own safety. At Planned Parenthood we believe that the ability to live and thrive without fear, to stay together as a family, and to access health care are basic human rights. This budget plan is a failure to protect women’s health, and to protect the lives, health, and safety of all people in this 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 over 650 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.