[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 175 (Thursday, December 3, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S8371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NORTHERN NEW 
                                ENGLAND

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, this week, Planned Parenthood of Northern 
New England marked its 50th anniversary with a well-attended gathering 
in South Burlington, VT. The event came less than a week after the 
deadly tragedy at a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado. The weight 
of that tragedy, more than 2,500 miles away from Vermont, was evident 
as those in the crowd bowed their heads in a moment of silence as the 
names of victims were read. But this South Burlington gathering also 
illustrated the depth of support for an organization that plays a 
critical role in health care for women of all ages throughout Vermont, 
throughout New England, and throughout our country.
  The Planned Parenthood Association of Vermont began in 1965 when a 
small but active band of women gathered at the Unitarian Church in 
Burlington. Within the next 3 years, Maine and New Hampshire also 
established family planning centers, and by the mid-1980s, Planned 
Parenthood of Northern New England was formed.
  In 2014 alone, Planned Parenthood centers around Vermont provided 
vital primary and preventive services to over 16,000 patients. In a 
rural State like Vermont, the need for health care providers in remote 
areas is acute. More than 90 percent of Vermont's Planned Parenthood 
centers are located in rural or medically underserved areas. Many 
Vermonters describe Planned Parenthood as their primary source of 
health care. In just one example, without the services that Planned 
Parenthood provides, thousands of low-income women in Vermont would 
lose their ability to have regular cancer screenings that could save 
their lives.
  Over five decades, Planned Parenthood has weathered many challenges 
that include ensuring the safety of its own health care providers. In 
the aftermath of 9/11, more than 500 anthrax threat letters were sent 
to Planned Parenthood locations and other reproductive health care 
providers; yet it seems unimaginable that we are here in December 2015, 
in the U.S. Senate, once again debating whether to defund an 
organization that does so much to ensure the health and well-being of 
women across the country.
  In August I spoke in opposition to this misguided, distortion-filled, 
partisan effort. I said at the time that the issue was unfortunately 
all too familiar. With the critical issues that face us today, why are 
we spending our time and energy on this ideologically driven effort to 
bar funding for women's health centers? I am saddened that we are even 
talking about this provision today, not even 1 week since a gunman 
stormed that Planned Parenthood in Colorado and caused such carnage. 
This is shameful, and it is cynical. It is time for the mean-spirited 
assault on women's health care to end.
  I was heartened by the supporters, both women and men, who turned out 
to mark the 50th anniversary of Planned Parenthood of Northern New 
England this week in South Burlington. They included the next 
generation of young women who have been ``passed the torch'' to stand 
up for their rights to health care and reproductive freedom. They are 
committed to making sure Planned Parenthood will be around for another 
50 years--and they give me hope. Let us not turn our backs on them by 
turning back the clock.

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