Brad Ashford: “Today, we face another government shutdown, another government shutdown that threatens our economy. And what is this…”

“Today, we face another government shutdown, another government shutdown that threatens our economy. And what is this potential shutdown about? It is about Congress trying to dictate to women in my community which healthcare providers they can and cannot see to get care. Let me set the record straight. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland provides vital preventive care to women in my community. Last year, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland served nearly 10,000 patients. They conducted over 4,000 cervical and breast cancer screenings and over 13,000 tests for sexually transmitted infections. They provided prenatal care, pregnancy testing, and other preventive health services. They are an active supporter of the national campaign to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy, and they even have licensed adoption professionals on site to help women navigate the steps of adoption. I am a strong believer that education regarding women's health prevents abortions. We must come together and work in a spirit of bipartisanship to avoid this government shutdown. ____________________”