Democratic Women’s Caucus Statement on HHS Final Rule to Strengthen the Title X Family Planning Program

October 5, 2021
Press Release
CONTACT: Michelle Moreno-Silva
 
Washington, D.C. – Today, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Co-Chairs Congresswomen Jackie Speier (CA-14), Lois Frankel (FL-21), and Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), and Vice Chairs Congresswomen Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) issued the following statement on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issuing a final rule to strengthen the Title X Family Planning Program.
 
“The Trump gag rule was a dangerous policy that prohibited any provider receiving funding through the Title X Family Planning Program from also providing abortion services, referrals, or information, even with their own funding. This cut off patient access to critical medical information and services, forced trusted providers like Planned Parenthood out of the Title X Family Planning Program, and slashed the Title X network’s patient capacity in half,” said the Members. “We applaud the Biden-Harris administration for taking the first big step to ensure that all people in this country have access to essential family planning services. Women have faced insurmountable health burdens throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and this was only made worse for women of color, the uninsured, and lower-income families through the previous administration’s cruel efforts to prevent these patients from receiving the care they deserve. Yesterday’s Title X Family Planning Program rule is an important step forward in putting patients and families first by reversing the previous administration’s efforts and advancing more equitable access to quality, affordable family planning services for all women and families. All patients deserve accurate and comprehensive information about their health options, regardless of their provider’s personal beliefs or politicians’ agendas – plain and simple.”
 
HHS’ new rule replaces the 2019 Title X Rule, reversing the Trump administration’s changes to the program and takes effect on November 8, 2021. You may find the final rule here.
 
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