MomsRising Issues Statement on Planned Parenthood Being Forced Out of Title X Program

BELLEVUE, Washington, Aug. 20 -- MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than 1 million mothers and their families, issued the following statement by Executive Director and CEO Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner on Planned Parenthood being forced out of the Title X program due to the Trump Administration's gag rule:

"It's a grim day for low-income patients and families in the United States. By forcing Planned Parenthood out of the Title X program, President Trump has put politics ahead of patients' lives, endangering the health of millions. Title X provides essential, affordable reproductive and preventive health care, but Trump has undermined this program by imposing an immoral 'gag rule' that forbids providers from honestly informing pregnant patients about all their options, including abortion. The gag rule is dangerous and cruel, and must not be allowed to stand.

"Forty percent of patients who access health care through Title X do so at Planned Parenthood health centers. Trump's gag rule will make it harder for millions of patients to access not just abortion services, but the full range of care that Planned Parenthood provides, including birth control and vital preventive care such as STD and cancer screenings. The rule will be especially punitive for already vulnerable communities, including people of color, rural communities, and LGBTQ+ people.

"The moms of America will fight back against this blatant attack on our health care and reproductive rights. Most people who have abortions are already parents, and people of all backgrounds must be able to access comprehensive reproductive care, confident that their doctor will inform them of all their options. We demand that Congress move quickly to stop this unconscionable, unjustifiable gag rule, restoring health care to the millions who rely on Planned Parenthood's vital services. We should be working to increase all patients' access to care, not ripping it away from those in vulnerable communities."

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America's families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women -- particularly moms and women of color -- and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamasConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org -- and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.