Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today spoke in opposition to Republicans’ latest effort to reduce access to basic healthcare and family planning services, particularly in rural areas. Unfortunately, the House passed legislation allowing states to block reproductive healthcare providers from participating in the Title X family planning program.

“A woman’s access to birth control shouldn’t be dependent on her income or zip code, but House leaders are determined to eradicate places where contraception is available. It’s just another week in Congress and another attack on women’s health,” DelBene said. “For more than 40 years, Title X has helped vulnerable families access the family planning care they need. Allowing states to block reproductive healthcare providers from participating in the program will do nothing but harm Americans — especially those in rural and underserved communities. This is unacceptable and endangers people’s health.”

Video of her speech can be found HERE.

Title X is a federal grant program dedicated to family planning, which includes contraception and basic preventive care such as cancer screenings and HIV tests. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Title X sites served 4 million patients in 2015, ultimately saving taxpayers billions of dollars in Medicaid-related costs.

In 2016, the Obama administration finalized a rule to ensure Americans can access these essential healthcare services through any Title X-qualified provider. Republicans used the Congressional Review Act to vote to overturn the Obama administration regulation, allowing states to block certain providers for reasons unrelated to their ability to administer the services. The resolution now heads to the Senate for a vote.

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