Pallone Votes Against Dangerous Attack on Women’s Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2017


Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) voted against, H.J.Res. 43, which disapproves of a Health and Human Services rule, issued in December 2016, designed to protect health care access to millions of people across the country who would otherwise go without birth control, cancer screenings, and other preventive care.

“Despite the misleading rhetoric from Republicans, Title X does not fund abortions. For decades, the Title X family planning program has funded grants that provide millions of Americans each year with access to a broad range of preventive health services, including contraception care and cancer screenings,” said Pallone. “Title X is a critical safety net for low-income women and teens, and for many patients this program is their only source of health care. But Republicans want to limit access to these services and allow states to discriminate against certain providers – all as part of their ongoing ideological crusade against abortion.”

Earlier this week Pallone visited Planned Parenthood in Perth Amboy to show his strong support for comprehensive health care coverage, women’s reproductive rights, and the organization’s mission. Pallone is the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over health care. Planned Parenthood provides life-saving preventative care for 2.7 million patients nationwide every year. The Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress are pushing to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal funds. Despite being routinely used as a political punching bag, Planned Parenthood is one of the most critical providers of women’s health coverage.

Congressman Pallone was one the authors of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which includes provisions to support and enhance access to quality health care for women, including preventing insurance companies from treating simply being a woman as a pre-existing condition. Trump and Congressional Republicans are now in the process of trying to repeal the ACA.

Congressman Pallone spoke on the House floor against H.J. Res. 43. The text of his remarks can be found below and the video can be found below.

Mr. Speaker I rise today in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 43. This resolution is another attack on women’s health, and another attempt by Republicans to limit women’s access to high-quality essential care.

For decades, the Title X family planning program has funded grants that provide millions of Americans each year with access to a broad range of preventive health services, including contraception care and cancer screenings. Title X is a critical safety net for low-income women and teens, and for many patients this program is their only source of health care.

But Republicans want to limit access to these services and allow states to discriminate against certain providers – all as part of their ongoing ideological crusade against abortion.
This resolution would permit states to prohibit reproductive health care providers from participating in the Title X program, and would allow states to block access to care if the provider separately performs abortions or is affiliated with health centers that do.

We have already seen what happens when states take actions to discriminate against providers in the Title X program: access goes down, the unintended pregnancy rate goes up, and the spread of sexually transmitted infections increases.

I urge my colleagues to vote no on this resolution, because Republicans should not be entitled to pick and choose providers in the Title X program and play politics with women’s health.