I am deeply concerned that, at a time when we should be discussing how to dramatically increase Title X funding and bring reproductive healthcare to millions of women in need, we are instead being forced to focus our oversight authority on…

the Trump administration has been intent on replacing providers' and patients' judgment with their own.

the proposed rule would significantly and detrimentally alter the Title X Family Planning Program, which has provided vital sexual and reproductive health services to people across the country for more than 40 years.

OK. So I would just point out that that regulation was more than 30 years ago and the legislation has been clarified that in its prohibition on Title X abortion funding, you can still have nondirective counseling of pregnant women.

result in less contraceptive services, more unintended pregnancies, less early breast cancer detection, less screening for cervical cancer, less HIV screening, and less testing for sexually transmitted disease.

What I find interesting is the wordsmithing that has been taking place here today. None of what you are trying to preempt has even occurred.

Today, this subcommittee is holding the first congressional hearing in nearly 25 years on the Title X Family Planning Program.

I think there has been a little confusion today and I think we need to be really clear what we are talking about.

I think we should all work together on both sides of the aisle to pass robust birth control legislation.

we are very concerned that the proposed changes, if implemented, would undermine patients' access to high-quality medical care and information, dangerously interfere with the physician-patient relationship, and conflict with physicians'…

I would just point out that is not what the statute says.

The rule forbids health providers from giving complete information to patients on all of their pregnancy options.

Please protect individuals in the Title X program and their access to high-quality care.

the rule says that medical professionals can have a full conversation, including about abortion but only--even if the patients asks, but only in the situation of medical necessity, rape, or incest.

Now, through its proposed gag rule, the Trump administration is directly undercutting Title X by forcing health centers to make the impossible choice between proper healthcare on the one hand and Federal funding on the other.

These new rules not only contradict professional ethics and practice guidelines, they perpetuate a system of injustice.

The Trump administration's agenda takes neither evidence nor patients into account in its attempts to dismantle the Title X network.

Everyone deserves access to the full range of contraceptive methods.

This Administration is comfortable putting its divisive ideology over the needs of people and families.

So this would be far, far more reaching than the Department would seem to indicate.

The title of this hearing is on the Protecting Title X and Safe-Guarding Quality Family Planning Care.

indifference is far too common with the Trump administration.

While anti-abortion ideology is fueling the administration's action, that motivation has no bearing on the Title X program.

You have elevated ideology over evidence in the public health and you have done so to the detriment of women and families.

I am grateful for the opportunity to thank Chairwoman Velazquez in person for her co-sponsorship of this legislation.