Planned Parenthood Action Fund Statement on 2023 Government Funding Legislation

Washington, D.C. — Early this morning, congressional leadership released the final fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations bill, which once again fails to deliver desperately needed and long overdue funding increases for domestic and global reproductive health programs, including Title X, the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, international family planning, and the United Nations Population Fund. The spending bill also again includes harmful abortion bans and restrictions such as the Hyde, Helms, and Weldon amendments and fails to permanently repeal the global gag rule.

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president, Planned Parenthood Action Fund: 

“People across the country have made it clear: They want their elected officials to protect and expand access to sexual and reproductive health care. Unfortunately, today’s final funding agreement fails to make long overdue and necessary funding increases to get people the care they need through key domestic and global programs, despite appropriations bills in both chambers, led by sexual and reproductive health champions, that included these critical investments. Congress had a clear directive and they failed to deliver. Let’s be clear about who is at fault: the same out of touch, anti-reproductive freedom politicians that aren’t just working to ban abortion — they are unapologetic and unrelenting about limiting access to critical sexual and reproductive health programs. This 2023 government funding bill is just the latest example of those politicians doing everything in their power to restrict our bodily autonomy and ability to decide our own futures. At a time when Roe v. Wade has been overturned and health care access is under increasing threat, this bill fails to meet the moment.

“Our work does not end here. We continue our fight for sexual and reproductive health care for all.”

Title X is the nation’s only federal program dedicated to providing affordable birth control and other sexual and reproductive health care to people with low incomes. The program funds essential health care services such as birth control counseling and methods, STI testing and treatment, breast and cervical cancer screenings, pre-pregnancy care, and more. 

The United States has been a leading bilateral donor for international family planning and reproductive health. These investments are central to achieving many global health goals, including reducing rates of unintended pregnancy, maternal, infant, and child mortality, and mother-to-child HIV transmission. These investments are extended by the U.S. contribution to the UNFPA, which works in more than 150 countries worldwide to deliver maternal and reproductive health care and prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

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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.