Katie Porter: “All during the 1980s, never was title X a target. On a bipartisan basis, even though from 1985 on the program was…”

“All during the 1980s, never was title X a target. On a bipartisan basis, even though from 1985 on the program was unauthorized, people on both sides of the aisle supported funding for family planning. There was an issue on the gag rule that was debated furiously, but not for a minute was there a question about funding of title X itself. Mr. Chairman, now, somehow, the agenda has changed. Suddenly people are jumping up who were supporters of title X and saying how terrible a program it is. I heard a minute ago one of the Members say that he would be very, very concerned that his daughter was going to be counseled to have an abortion. No one has ever been counseled to have an abortion by a title X clinic. It is against the law to do that. Never has a dollar been spent on abortion by a title X clinic. It is against the law to do that. GAO has repeatedly, over and over again, certified that no money is spent for abortion by title X clinics, yet here we are with some kind of new agenda. Mr. Chairman, this is a program that helps poor women avoid unwanted pregnancies through contraception. Through contraception. Abortion is not a legitimate family planning method.”