[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 27 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E290-E291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FULL-YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 17, 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. RICHARDSON. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.
  I rise today in strong opposition to the Pence Amendment to the 
Republican Continuing Resolution which would eliminate all federal 
funding to Planned Parenthood facilities across the country.
  Planned Parenthood has been a vital healthcare provider for low and 
moderate income women since its formation in 1916. It is one of the 
largest providers of basic healthcare in the country offering a variety 
of services including cancer screenings, HIV/AIDS testing, blood 
pressure examinations and general reproductive care for more than 3 
million patients annually.
  If passed, this amendment would have a detrimental impact on women's 
access to basic healthcare services and would severely limit a woman's 
right to control her own reproductive health.
  Over 90% of the services Planned Parenthood administers are 
preventative care services that keep low and moderate income women 
healthy. Planned Parenthood also gives women access to contraception 
and important family planning services.
  6 in 10 women who receive healthcare from women's health centers such 
as Planned Parenthood consider these facilities to be their primary 
source of basic, preventative care. Taking away these options for 
millions of women is not acceptable.
  Research has shown that every dollar invested in family planning 
programs saves American taxpayers $4. Clearly, the goal of this 
amendment is not to reduce the deficit but to restrict women's access 
to basic healthcare services.
  In the long-term, the preventative care services that Planned 
Parenthood offers will certainly save millions of dollars for the 
American taxpayer who would otherwise be forced to foot the medical 
bills of patients who had been denied access to preventative care 
services as a result of this amendment.
  The Republicans claim that this Continuing Resolution is about 
cutting the deficit. However, this amendment is inconsistent with that 
objective. Instead of focusing on creating jobs, an issue that is at 
the center of the American people's mind, the Republicans are focusing 
on eliminating funding to health centers that actually save the 
American taxpayers money.
  In these tough economic times, women who rely on health centers such 
as Planned Parenthood for basic care may not have any other options for 
seeking treatment if funding for these facilities were to disappear.
  This amendment does not reduce the deficit, it does not create jobs 
and it severely hinders women's right to affordable, basic healthcare.
  Thank you.

[[Page E291]]



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