Shaheen Statement on Planned Parenthood Withdrawing From Title X Due to Trump Administration's Domestic Gag Rule
(Washington, DC) — U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement after Planned Parenthood announced that it will no longer participate in the federal family planning program known as Title X because of the Trump administration's domestic gag rule:
“The withdrawal of Planned Parenthood and other clinics from the Title X program severely undermines the delivery of health care to women across the Granite State and the country," said Shaheen. "The Trump administration and Republican leadership in Congress have repeatedly tried to defund Planned Parenthood but have always been rebuffed because Americans recognize and appreciate the important services that Planned Parenthood provides. The Title X gag rule, which has forced these clinics to withdraw from the program, has a clear motive: to go around Congress and the will of the American people to implement this partisan agenda that cuts off vital care to women and attacks their constitutional rights. In addition to providing safe and legal abortions for women, the clinics that are being targeted by the administration offer critical preventative health care services, such as lifesaving cancer screenings, STD testing and yearly physical exams, to millions of Americans, including more than 16,000 Granite Staters. I will continue to fight against this reckless and irresponsible assault on women's health care led by President Trump and Republican leadership.”
Senator Shaheen is a dedicated advocate for women’s reproductive rights. Senator Shaheen has been fighting for years to increase coverage of women’s preventative care in the annual defense authorization bill. Earlier this year, Shaheen led the bicameral effort in Congress to reintroduce her legislation that would overhaul the Department of Defense’s (DOD) policy on contraceptive coverage and family planning to bring it in line with current law for civilian populations. The bill would ensure all women who receive health care through the United States military have access to all forms of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved contraception with no health insurance co-pay. Shaheen has also reintroduced the Access to Birth Control Act with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), which would guarantee patients’ timely access to birth control at the pharmacy. Shaheen continues to lead efforts to repeal the Global Gag Rule, which bans critical federal aid for non-governmental groups that provide the full scope of family planning and maternal health services abroad.
