Proposal To Cut Planned Parenthood Funding Fails

WASHINGTON - The Republican proposal, H.R. 1, has been defeated by a vote of 44-56. The proposal would cut $61 billion from the current budget through cuts to programs like implementation of the health care reform bill, Pell grants, early learning programs, nutrition for women and children, and funding for Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards responded to the news by stating, “Planned Parenthood applauds the Senate for defeating H.R. 1, a bill that would have had a devastating impact on women’s health.

“A No vote on H.R. 1 represents a Yes vote for women’s health, since H.R. 1 uses the misleading cover of deficit reduction to push an extreme ideological agenda designed to take health care away from women.

“However, the budget negotiations are not yet over and we expect conservative members to continue to push to include the amendment to bar Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds in upcoming CRs.

“Among its many harmful provisions, H.R. 1 proposes to completely eliminate the national family planning program as well as prohibit Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds for any purpose, including for preventive health care, lifesaving cancer screenings, breast exams, birth control, HIV testing and STD testing and treatment.

“The House effort to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood health centers is purely political, will do nothing to reduce the deficit or fix the economy, and will ultimately result in job loss.

“The national family planning program has provided lifesaving preventive and primary care for low-income women since President Nixon signed it into law in 1970. Health centers funded through the national family planning program, including Planned Parenthood, save women’s lives by detecting breast and cervical cancer at early stages, by offering testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, screening for high blood pressure, and providing immunizations. These clinics also prevent nearly a million unintended pregnancies every year, thus reducing the need for abortion.

“Planned Parenthood’s doctors and nurses provide preventive care to three million people a year. The effort to bar Planned Parenthood health centers from receiving any federal funds would shatter the country’s public health safety net and jeopardize women’s health. Without Planned Parenthood’s 800-plus health centers, millions of women will have no place to go for basic, preventive health care.

“Finally, H.R. 1 also contains harmful polices on international women’s health, including a reinstatement of the Bush-era global gag rule and a restriction on U.S. contributions to UNFPA, the United Nation Population Fund. These ideological attacks on women do not save taxpayers money, and will instead undermine the positive impact of U.S. programs overseas.

“Planned Parenthood applauds those senators who stood up for women’s health and voted no on H.R. 1 and urges members to continue to reject extreme proposals that bar Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal funds, and have nothing to do with reducing the deficit or creating jobs.”