Senate Committee Approves Attacks on Abortion Access
For Immediate Release: June 22, 2018 (Updated: June 22, 2018, 6 p.m.)
Senate Appropriations Committee Includes DC Abortion Rider For the First Time in 10 Years
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a funding bill that includes provisions designed to block access to safe and legal abortion. For the first time in 10 years, the Senate Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill inserted a harmful policy rider that would block women with low incomes from abortion coverage through District of Columbia locally raised funds. This measure was pushed by anti-women’s health Senator James Lankford (R-OK).
Statement from Dana Singiser, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
Shame on you, Senator Lankford, for targeting women who have low incomes in the District of Columbia and trying to make it harder for them to access the health care they need. For a decade, this bill has respected the ability of the District to use its own funds to provide the health care coverage its citizens need. Every woman deserves access to basic health care, including abortion, no matter where she lives or how much money she makes. Women living in the District of Columbia should not face additional barriers to health care because Congress is playing politics with their health. Senators should focus on expanding access to health care, not taking it away.
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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.