Nearly 40 Organizations Supporting Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice Release Joint Statement to House Leadership: Your LHHS Bill is a Non-Starter
For Immediate Release: Nov. 14, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC – Just days ahead of a possible government shutdown, the anti-abortion House majority plans to vote on the fiscal year (FY’24) Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. This bill slashes funding to health programs and includes a host of poison pill riders attacking access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion. These cuts are deeply unpopular as the majority of Americans support protecting access to sexual and reproductive health care.
The organizations supporting reproductive health, rights, and justice released the following statement:
“House Majority leadership has shown us yet again that they would rather force through their dangerous agenda than govern. The people support protecting access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion. And yet, the House majority insists on bringing this extreme bill to the floor for a vote just days ahead of a possible government shutdown, knowing full well that it has no pathway to passage in the Senate. This should be a non-starter. If they truly care about funding the government, they’d stop using this crucial appropriations process to attack sexual and reproductive health care."
In the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill, anti-abortion rights House members included measures designed to:
- Eliminate funding for the Title X family planning program;
- “Defund” Planned Parenthood by blocking people that rely on public health programs from accessing critical preventive services at Planned Parenthood health centers;
- Eliminate funding for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, while funding abstinence-only programs;
- Restrict access to gender affirming care;
- Prohibit Medicaid from covering abortion through the discriminatory Hyde Amendment, and attempt to expand the harmful Weldon Amendment;
- Interfere with postgraduate training in abortion care, an essential component of medical education necessary to ensure the health and well-being of pregnant people;
- Stop implementation of Biden administration executive orders intended to increase access to abortion care for people impacted by state bans post-Dobbs decision;
- Restrict potentially lifesaving medical research; and
- Prohibit the implementation of the Biden administration’s executive order to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.
This joint statement was signed by:
ACLU
Advocates for Youth
AIDS United
All* Above All
American Federation of Teachers
American Humanist Association
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Center for Reproductive Rights
Endangered Species Coalition
Guttmacher Institute
Healthy Teen Network
Impact Fund
Indivisible
Ipas
Modern Military Association of America (MMAA)
National Abortion Federation
National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association
National Health Law Program
National Organization for Women
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Women's Health Network
National Women's Law Center
PAI
Physicians for Reproductive Health
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Population Connection Action Fund
Positive Women's Network-USA
Power to Decide
Reframe Health and Justice
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America)
RH Impact
SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change
The AIDS Institute
Union for Reform Judaism
Women of Reform Judaism
Women's Refugee Commission
YWCA US
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care, 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. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.