Congressional Reproductive Health Care Champions Introduce Legislation to Repeal Helms Amendment
For Immediate Release: March 23, 2023
WASHINGTON — Today, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) re-introduced the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act, which would repeal the Helms Amendment, a 50 year-old policy that blocks the use of U.S. foreign assistance to expand access to abortion.
Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
“As we continue to fight back against abortion bans and restrictions across the country, we must also work to expand access and eliminate barriers abroad. Everyone should be able to make their own decisions about their bodies, regardless of where they live. The Helms Amendment is a coercive policy that hurts people in low-income countries the most, is rooted in white supremacy, and a clear example of the U.S. abusing its global power.
We thank Rep. Schakowsky and Sen. Booker for their continued leadership on abortion rights here and globally. It’s past time Congress ends this neocolonial policy.”
The Helms Amendment puts safe abortion care out of reach for those served by U.S. foreign assistance, including global health, gender-based violence, and humanitarian programs. This endangers lives and stigmatizes abortion. It disproportionately affects women and young people, restricting their ability to have the resources to control their own lives and futures.
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S.