On the recordFebruary 16, 2017
Let me thank Congresswoman DeGette for her tireless leadership in fighting for women's health, for healthy families in general, and for our children. I rise in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 43. It is no surprise that, once again, congressional Republicans are trying to undermine women's access to health care and basic family planning services. This ideological crusade--and that is what it is--will hurt those who need help the most, including low-income women, women of color, and young women. It would also deny thousands of families from choosing their provider of choice--and sometimes the only accessible provider-- under title X. Not only is this resolution antiwoman, it is also counterproductive. We know that for every dollar spent on title X family planning, we save more than $7 on Medicaid-related costs. But my Republican colleagues are so determined to take family planning options away from low-income women that they are prepared to put ideological perspectives above public health. As a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, I, unfortunately, see these attacks on women's health all too well. Last year, Republicans tried to completely eliminate funding for title X. So don't be fooled. This piece of legislation is not about Planned Parenthood. It is about Members of Congress trying to control women's bodies.
