Planned Parenthood Statement on 2022 Government Funding Legislation
For Immediate Release: March 9, 2022
Washington, D.C. — Today, congressional leadership announced they had reached a spending deal to finalize fiscal year 2022 appropriations and new authorizations for spending to address the conflict in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the bill does not include the much-needed new investments in sexual and reproductive health priorities like Title X or international family planning programs and UNFPA that were passed in the House and proposed by the Senate, nor does it take long overdue steps to remove discriminatory abortion bans like the Hyde, Helms, and Weldon amendments or permanently repeal the harmful global gag rule.
Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
“Despite the historic progress made this year under President Biden and Congressional leaders, a spending package that includes the Hyde Amendment and fails to permanently repeal the global gag rule in yet another federal budget — at the insistence of members of Congress who work to restrict reproductive rights — is deeply disappointing. But we remain confident that the leadership of Reproductive Justice organizations and women of color has brought us closer to a future where these abortion coverage bans are a thing of the past.
“Yet, with the constitutional right to an abortion hanging in the balance, this bill’s failure to make greater investments to expand access to family planning in the U.S. and around the world is inexcusable. We can no longer accept our health and rights being used as a bargaining chip by those who want to control our bodies and our futures. At a time when reproductive health care is under relentless attacks, the funding provided for key programs in this appropriations bill fails to meet the moment.
“I remain grateful to Representative Rosa DeLauro, Senator Patty Murray, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Chris Coons, and Representative Barbara Lee, who have all worked to support sexual and reproductive health care domestically and globally and wrote their own appropriations bills that included robust investments and long overdue, critical policy changes. Their efforts should not go unrecognized.
“We need Congress to follow their lead. We cannot, and will not, stop fighting to make sure everyone has access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion, no matter where you live, your income, or your insurance coverage.”
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care, 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.