Lois Capps: “I rise this evening to speak in strong opposition to the Pence amendment. The Pence amendment is an attack on women's…”

“I rise this evening to speak in strong opposition to the Pence amendment. The Pence amendment is an attack on women's health. This much is clear. What isn't clear is what these women who today are cared for by Planned Parenthood doctors and nurses would do for care if the Pence amendment should pass. Planned Parenthood serves 3 million Americans every year. These are Americans who rely upon Planned Parenthood to receive their annual wellness exams; Americans who rely upon Planned Parenthood to receive contraceptive services to prevent unplanned pregnancies; Americans who get tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections, improving their health and protecting the health of their community; Americans who rely on Planned Parenthood for their cancer screenings, tests that can detect cervical cancer or breast cancer early, when it is easier and less expensive to treat, saving our entire health care infrastructure millions of health care dollars. And these Americans cannot just go somewhere else, somewhere that my colleague on the other side of the aisle would find more palatable. Sixty percent of those who use Planned Parenthood services consider it to be their main source of health care, their medical home. A vote to strip Planned Parenthood of its funding is a vote to cut these Americans off from their health care system. Surely we can't want that.”