Planned Parenthood Remains Concerned about Rex Tillerson’s Record and Qualifications to Serve as Secretary of State

WASHINGTON — After this week’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing with Rex Tillerson on his nomination to be U.S. Secretary of State, Planned Parenthood Federation of America released the following statement:

Statement from Latanya Mapp Frett, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Global:

“We remain concerned about the record and qualifications of Rex Tillerson to serve as an effective Secretary of State, especially when it comes to protecting issues of women’s health and gender equity around the world. To preserve America’s global standing as well as advance our national interests, U.S. leaders must serve as fierce advocates for human rights, which is why Planned Parenthood remains wary of Rex Tillerson, who during the course of his hearing  failed to acknowledge known human rights abuses conducted by foreign governments over the years. Should he be confirmed, we plan to hold him to the high standard befitting the office of Secretary of State, and especially hold him accountable in continuing the U.S. government’s efforts to empower women, including through foreign assistance support for family planning.

“We commend Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the only woman on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for raising the importance of U.S. funding for family planning and reproductive health abroad.  

“The U.S. has long been a global leader on women’s equality. Thanks to the leadership of President Obama and Secretaries of State John Kerry and Hillary Clinton, 27 million women and couples can now get contraceptive supplies and services, averting six million unintended pregnancies and saving 11,000 women’s lives. These women and families are afraid that the new administration will send them backward, and that Mr. Tillerson may play a role in that.”

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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.

For more than 40 years, Planned Parenthood Global, the international arm of PPFA, has been supporting partners outside of the U.S. to ensure that women, men, and young people in some of the world’s most neglected areas have access to the health care they need to control their bodies and their futures. By partnering with local advocates, medical service providers, and youth leaders and helping to build sustainable networks and organizations, we find innovative ways to deliver critical services and fight for more inclusive laws and policies.