Here They Go Again: Anti-Abortion Rights Politicians Trying to Shut Down Planned Parenthood, Sexual and Reproductive Health Programs in Federal Funding Bill
For Immediate Release: July 14, 2023
Latest attempt comes amid ongoing lawsuit before Texas federal judge, also threatening to shut down Planned Parenthood
WASHINGTON – Today, politicians on the House Appropriations Committee who are hostile to sexual and reproductive health care are trying to advance legislation that aims to shut down Planned Parenthood in their proposed annual Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education funding bill. The bill would cut off access to Planned Parenthood health centers for people who access care through federal programs funded by the bill.
This legislation also includes a number of other extreme attacks on access to sexual and reproductive health care, including undermining and completely eliminating funding for the Title X program — which helps people access affordable birth control, cancer screenings, STI treatment and other reproductive health care; attaching discriminatory abortion restrictions like the Hyde amendment; attempting to stop the Biden administration from supporting sexual and reproductive health in the wake of the Dobbs decision; and more.
Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:
“Politicians are still trying to control people's bodies. By attacking sexual and reproductive health care they're proving that they refuse to learn from, or listen to, their constituents. In election after election, and poll after poll, the overwhelming majority of voters have voiced support for reproductive freedom — but some leaders remain hellbent on stripping people’s rights and access to essential health care. Now lawmakers opposed to sexual and reproductive health care want to take away birth control, cancer screenings, and other critical health care from millions of people. And they are seeking to shut down Planned Parenthood — again.
Politicians who oppose reproductive freedom, along with their allies, are also trying to sue Planned Parenthood out of existence — using a federal court case in Texas before the very same judge who tried to end FDA approval of mifepristone. Make no mistake: out-of-step and alarming attempts to eliminate patients' access to care at Planned Parenthood health centers will continue. Despite these efforts to undermine care, Planned Parenthood health centers will remain focused on providing vital and time-sensitive, essential health care to millions of people.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and an anonymous plaintiff are pushing this baseless and politically motivated lawsuit — United States ex rel. Doe v. Planned Parenthood Federation of America — in an attempt to shut down Planned Parenthood health centers and the vital services they provide like birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and other essential care. This is a blatant and desperate attempt to shut down Planned Parenthood and put an end to affordable health care options for Texans. Read more about this meritless lawsuit here.
The House of Representatives is considering a number of other government funding bills that also attack sexual and reproductive health — including efforts to restrict access to medication abortion, attack gender-affirming care, and block abortion care for servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Other bills would restrict global access to sexual and reproductive health care by reinstating the global gag rule, slashing funding for international family planning programs, and barring funding for UNFPA — the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency.
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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and limited electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.