[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 31 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN SUPPORT OF THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED PERLMUTTER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 3, 2011

  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Pence 
Amendment #11 regarding the defunding of Title X health programs 
including Planned Parenthood. The Planned Parenthood Federation of 
America provides essential medical services to millions of men and 
women. For more than 90 years Planned Parenthood has promoted the 
health and well-being of women and men. More than 90 percent of the 
care Planned Parenthood provides is primary and preventive. These 
services include wellness exams, cancer screenings, immunizations, 
contraception and STD testing and treatment.
  Often the only medical care women and men will receive is at Planned 
Parenthood. More than 6 in 10 patients who receive care at centers like 
Planned Parenthood consider it their primary source of care. Three-
quarters of Planned Parenthood patients live at or below 150 percent of 
the federal poverty rate. These patients need centers like Planned 
Parenthood more than ever. Without their services millions of patients 
will go without health care.
  The Pence Amendment would defend all of these services. Planned 
Parenthood is the only national provider that has developed a set of 
evidence-based guidelines to define health care delivery, and they 
review them annually. For every public dollar invested in family 
planning services, $3.74 is saved in Medicaid-related costs. This 
amendment would cut these savings to the federal government and state 
governments. Title X funding provided 2.2 million Pap tests, 2.3 
million breast exams, over 6 million tests for sexually transmitted 
infections, and nearly 1 million HIV tests. This amendment would cause 
women to experience unintended pregnancies, face potentially life-
threatening cancer and other disease that could have been prevented. 
This amendment is not about fiscal responsibility or legality, it is 
about denying women the right to affordable medical care.
  In Colorado and across this country Planned Parenthood is providing 
care to over 3 million people a year. Their services are essential to 
women, men and their families. No one should go without affordable 
health care, and Planned Parenthood leads the way in providing it.

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