[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 27 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FULL-YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

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                               speech of

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other 
     departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes:

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to the C.R. put 
forward by my Republican colleagues, and specifically to the defunding 
of Title X family planning programs authorized under the Public Health 
Service Act.
  Begun in 1970 by President Nixon, Title X funding provides for 
voluntary family planning projects, and is essential to protecting 
women's health services. Currently, Title X is our Nation's only 
program dedicated to providing low-income Americans with family 
planning and reproductive health services.
  My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are attempting to 
misconstrue Title X as federal subsidizing of abortion. However, Title 
X does not provide for abortion services. But it does cover essential 
health care for millions of families and women. From birth control to 
cancer screenings, approximately five million Americans rely upon Title 
X programs every year.
  We simply cannot afford to cut lifesaving and preventive care 
services for those who would not otherwise have access to such care, 
especially in our current economic climate.
  I urge my colleagues to vote against the defunding of these vital 
health programs contained in Title X by voting against the C.R.

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