- New policy under Trump administration threatens to cut off government subsidization if organizations like Planned Parenthood continue to provide abortion services and referrals.
The Department of Health and Human Services have announced the new rules for government spending towards reproductive health organization on Thursday night. The new policy under Trump administration is noticeably aiming to bring a halt to abortions. Owing to a bill set in 1970, named Title X, a federal family planning program was introduced. While the bill entails a ban of direct subsidization towards abortion services, organizations have found a way around it. Many organizations, one of which includes Planned Parenthood, tend to allocate the monetary resources that they receive from Title X towards various women’s health services. These include cancer screenings as well as the distribution of birth control.
Subsequently, Trump administration threatens to pull out government spending unless organizations put a stop to abortion-related services and such.
If the new policy is put into motion, organizations like Planned Parenthood would have to show that there is a distinct line that distinguishes the physical and financial aspects of their family planning programs from abortion facilities, specifically where such services are “performed, supported, or referred for as a method of family planning”, as conveyed by The New York Times.
Although the White House press secretary has proceeded to clarify the ways in which President Trump’s new regulations function to “improve women’s health and ensure that federal funds are not used to fund the abortion industry in violation of the law”, these changes will irrefutably bring about a series of negative impacts to women who depend on subsidized women’s health services. That is about 4 million women in the United States.
First of all, taking away the rights for women to get abortions directly removes a woman’s rights to her own body. This is both inhumane and illogical. What’s worse is to enforce these ideologies through governmental lawmaking and funding. Unfortunately for these women, a majority of the decision-makers in the nation stand by that irrational belief. Hence, women have no choice but to consider these ideas seriously and possibly seek out alternative solutions.
Fortunately, though, Planned Parenthood understands the challenges that women risks facing if these organizations were to succumb to the government’s aim. They are aware of the difference that they are making by providing access to basic health care and contraceptives as well as screenings for illnesses like cancer and sexually transmitted diseases.
Dawn Laguens is the Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer of Planned Parenthood. She has expressed her strong views against this proposal.
This is a far-reaching attack and attempt to take away women’s basic rights and reproductive rights, period.”
Carrie Flaxman is the deputy director of public policy litigation at Planned Parenthood. She reassures these women that they will stand by them with every fiber of their beings.
We will do everything we can to fight for our patients.”
This was reported by The New York Times.
Laguens, as well as the organization itself, has made a definitive statement towards this issue. They will not stop its abortion services or referrals that belongs under its reproductive health services.
Hat’s off to Planned Parenthood!
In a nutshell, the organization will be losing a sum of sixty million dollars in conjunction with this issue.
Tony Perkins is the President of the Family Research Council, who has also expressed his views regarding the matter.
Planned Parenthood and other abortion centers will now have to choose between dropping their abortion services from any location that gets Title X dollars and moving those abortion operations off-site. Either way, this will loosen the group’s hold on tens of millions of tax dollars.”
Politicians who are pro-choice have also voiced out their stance in conjunction with this news. One of them is none other than Governor Jay Inslee of Washington State, who is a Democrat.
If this administration insists on weaponizing the Title X program, I will work with our legislative leaders to make sure that no matter what happens in D.C., every woman in Washington State has access to all the family planning and health care services she needs.”
Women should not have to contest and struggle against a bunch of men in regards to being told what she can or cannot do to her own body. She should be able to choose against a decision that will impact her entire life.
Featured image via flickr/ Charlotte Cooper
