Family Planning Funding: A Smart Decision for the State Budget
For Immediate Release: June 25, 2020 (Updated: June 25, 2020, 6:57 p.m.)
TRENTON, N.J. – Today, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey (PPAFNJ) called on Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey state legislature to fully fund family planning services in the 3-month FY20 extension budget and the 9-month FY21 budget. While our state’s decision makers have incredibly tough decisions to make in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring access to health care should be an easy choice to make.
“In a public health crisis, we need more access to family planning health services – not less,” said Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, VP of Public Affairs with Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. “The patients family planning providers see each and every day have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic – now is not the time to further cut their ability to get care.”
To highlight the need for family planning funding, which helps support nearly 50 providers across the state, including Planned Parenthood, FQHCs, independent family planning providers, and county health departments, PPAFNJ released two fact sheets: “Family Planning Funding in New Jersey: Essential Health Care During a Pandemic” and “A Closer Look at New Jersey’s Family Planning Funding.” These documents highlight the importance of fully funding family planning in the state budget – both from an economic perspective, and a health care perspective.
“Our Governor and legislature have stepped up for reproductive health care in recent years. We cannot turn our backs on patients now, in their time of need,” said Wojtowicz. “Our state’s investment in high-quality, affordable family planning services will help ensure that everyone can get the care they need and deserve.”
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Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey (PPAFNJ) is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) non-profit social welfare organization, and the advocacy arm of the Planned Parenthood Affiliates in New Jersey. We advocate for access to essential health care through education, activism, voter engagement, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy. For more information, visit www.ppactionnj.org.