Budget: Oppose DefundingPlanned Parenthood et al. Preserve Women’s Health Care

Today I take pen in hand to write and urge you in the strongest possible terms to oppose, block and Vote NO on the proposed budget bill that includes a provision to defund Planned Parenthood. It’s yet another immoral attack on women, women’s health, and families on an organization that provides critical reproductive health services — not just abortions. Polls have shown, over and over, that people oppose the defunding of Planned Parenthood. It’s unpopular except as a political flash point for Republicans and so-called right-to-life groups, man of whom, incidentally, are led by men. It’s even cowardly in the way the provision in the reconciliation bill is worded: While the bill text doesn’t mention Planned Parenthood by name, it takes direct aim at Medicaid funding to “essential community providers that are primarily engaged in family planning services or reproductive services” As usual, this Republican led Congress and its budget bill is misguided and would be detrimental to public health. It will also have collateral cost increases to the federal government besides jeopardizing care. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, this measure would paradoxically increase federal spending by $300 million over the next decade. Planned Parenthood serves over 2 million patients annually, with the majority receiving services like cancer screenings, birth control, and preventive care rather than abortions. These are vital health centers. Many predominantly operate in underserved areas and serve patients on Medicaid, and this would create barriers to care and lead to increased costs from unintended pregnancies and lack of preventive services. Instead of pursuing an ideological agenda that undermines healthcare access, we must prioritize evidence-based policies that protect women's health I urge you to reject this harmful provision that attacks Planned Parenthood and could negatively impact millions of Americans. All members of Congress must vote NO on this harmful provision in the budget bill. Thank you.