Senate Blocks Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood
For Immediate Release: Dec. 28, 2015
Washington, DC --- Led by Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the U.S. Senate today voted down a budget bill that would have stripped Planned Parenthood of its federal funding by a bipartisan vote of to 52-47. Voting to protect the health care Planned Parenthood provides to millions across the country, notably, were three Republicans with a history of voting to protect women's health care: Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Kirk (R-IL), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Proving that attempts to defund Planned Parenthood continue to be political non-starters, the vote comes after extreme Republicans like Ted Cruz had been threatening to shut down the government over federal funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides preventive health care to the 2.7 million patients it sees at its nonprofit affiliate health centers every year.
The vote comes after weeks of politicians hoping to capitalize on a widely debunked sting operation carried out by anti-abortion extremists hoping to end access to safe and legal abortion at the expense of providing care to millions of women, many of whom are low-income and already have difficulty accessing care.
Statement from Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards:
“This is a victory for women and men across the country who will continue getting lifesaving cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, birth control, and annual exams at Planned Parenthood.
“After weeks of political posturing and shutdown threats, the U.S. Senate rejected a bill that would have restricted access to health care for millions of Americans. This vote should send the message loud and clear to the House of Representatives that Americans overwhelmingly support the care that Planned Parenthood provides and do not want Congress interfering in women's health care.
“The goal of these attacks is to get Planned Parenthood to stop providing care — and that will never happen. We have proudly provided the full range of reproductive health care services for 99 years, and we are only getting started.”
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With approximately 700 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.
Source
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Contact
Planned Parenthood Federation of America media office: 212-261-4433
Published
September 24, 2015