You should care about your reproductive rights. Here are the facts about the controversial bill that women everywhere are talking about.
The Facts:
On February 18, 2011, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill that strips Planned Parenthood of all federal funding. For Planned Parenthood, that means they will no longer receive $320 million from the federal government. If this piece of legislation is approved in Senate, more than sixty percent of Planned Parenthood clinics will be forced to shut down. This bill is apart of the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act. However, there is some good news. The bill was favorably voted on in the House of Representatives mainly because of its Republican majority. Due to the Senate’s Democratic majority, there will likely be opposition to the bill and less of a chance of the bill being passed. Senate is scheduled to vote on the bill in the next few weeks.
Why you should care:
The federal funding Planned Parenthood receives gives women access to affordable forms of birth control, breast cancer exams, pap tests for cervical cancer, and screening and treatment of STDs. One in every five American women has visited Planned Parenthood for affordable, accessible healthcare. “[This is] an extreme and dangerous piece of legislation,” said the President of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards in a press release. “The House Republican leadership has launched an outrageous assault on the millions of Americans who rely on Planned Parenthood for primary and preventative health care.”
For those against abortion:
Planned Parenthood does offer abortions. However, abortions only account for three percent of the services provided. Also, federal funding doesn’t cover abortions, only preventative measures to prevent pregnancy. Cecile Richards also stated that “It is difficult to understand why people who say they are opposed to abortion would do so much to undermine the family planning and contraception that helps prevent the need for it.” Richards makes a valid point and those against abortion and abortion services should take this information into account before supporting this bill.
To rally against this effort and get involved, sign this online petition from Planned Parenthood.
https://secure.ppaction.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=pp_ppol_ws_I_Stand_with_PP