[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 126 (Tuesday, August 1, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H8145-H8146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                            TITLE X FUNDING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Farr] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the majority 
party zeroing out funding for title X, which is our Nation's critical 
Family Planning Program.
  The title X Family Planning Program was created in 1970, with broad 
bipartisan support, as part of the Public Health Service Act. It was 
enacted and signed into law by then-President Richard Nixon, creating 
for the first time a comprehensive Federal program devoted entirely to 
the provision of family planning services on a national basis.
  Mr. Speaker, in his message on population growth and the American 
future, Nixon declared that ``No American woman should be denied access 
to family planning assistance because of her economic condition. I 
believe, therefore,'' he continued, ``that we should establish as a 
national goal the provision of family planning services to all who 
want, but cannot afford them.''
  Today, title X continues to be the glue that holds the national 
family planning service delivery system together, largely determining 
both its structure through its nationwide network of clinics and the 
substance of its services that are provided to low-income and moderate-
income women and teenagers. In 1990, alone, 5.3 million family planning 
clients were served by clinics administered by title X-supported 
agencies.
  Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of misconception about the use of 
these title X funds. The far right claim that title X money is somehow 
used to pay for abortions. Nothing could be further from the truth. 
Since its inception in 1970, the title X statute has prohibited the use 
of the program's funds for abortions as a method of family planning.
  In addition, congressional investigations during the 1980's found 
that all title X-funded clinics were operating in full compliance with 
the law. Of the more than 4,000 title X-funded clinics nationwide, 
approximately 80 provide abortions, all with other than title X funds, 
without exception. In fact, more than 50 percent of these clinics are 
in hospitals.
  Mr. Speaker, let me tell my colleagues about title X and what it 
does. 

[[Page H8146]]

Besides providing
 contraceptive methods, family planning clinics conduct related tests 
and examinations, including: pelvic exams, blood pressure measurement, 
anemia screening, Pap smear tests, diabetes, urinary tract infection 
screening, pregnancy tests, HIV testing, well-baby care, infertility 
counseling, prenatal care, midlife health programs, and mammography 
screening.

  Health care services are also provided to men, including STD 
treatment, STD screening, HIV testing, infertility counseling, and 
testicular cancer screening, among others.
  The importance of family planning is widely recognized. According to 
the Institute of Medicine Committee to study the prevention of low 
birthweight, it is important to stress that both young teenage status 
and poverty are major risk factors for low birthweight, and title X is 
specifically targeted at low-income women, including adolescents. As 
such, the program should be regarded as an important part of the public 
efforts to prevent low birthweight.
  Mr. Speaker, according to the March of Dimes Birth Defects 
Foundation, ``Family planning counseling and services are essential 
elements of preconception and interconception care. We affirm that 
family planning should be an integral part of prenatal care to improve 
pregnancy outcome.''
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me tomorrow and vote 
against the Labor-HHS rule which prohibits an amendment to restore 
funding to title X, and in the event that the amendment to restore 
funding for title X ruled in order, I urge my colleagues to support it. 
Support restoring these vital title X dollars.


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