Pence Amendment Defunding Planned Parenthood Seriously Endangers Women’s Access to Needed Health Care

Representative Mike Pence (R-IN) plans to offer an amendment to the fiscal year 2011 Continuing Resolution now on the House floor that would completely defund Planned Parenthood health centers. The following is the statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, in opposition to the Pence proposal:

“Representative Pence’s amendment will callously and dangerously jeopardize women’s access to high-quality, affordable health care in every state across the nation.

“Representative Pence’s extreme proposal would take away all federal funds from Planned Parenthood health centers. This amendment will harm the health of millions of low- and middle-income women by eliminating their access to essential preventive health care, including cancer screenings, breast exams, STI and HIV testing, as well as family planning services.

“Under current law, Planned Parenthood is already prohibited from using taxpayer funding for abortions. This amendment strips support for other health care services provided by Planned Parenthood. More than 90 percent of the health care that is offered by Planned Parenthood health centers is preventive care services. For many low- and middle-income women, these health centers are their only source of women’s health care.

“The Pence amendment demonstrates a shocking disregard for the health of millions of women. For women who have seen the recession hit their family budgets, this proposal would destroy a critical health care safety net when the need is great. It strikes a cold, harsh blow to women across our country who struggle in hard economic times to take care of themselves while taking care of their families.”

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 1100 · Washington, DC 20005
202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org