23-05-2025
With Planned Parenthood's funding in jeopardy, New England can't afford to ignore the threat
We provide essential, time-sensitive care like contraception, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, pregnancy testing, miscarriage management, and abortion care — care that is highly stigmatized and hard to access if offered at all. No other provider can fill the gap if we are forced to shut our doors.
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Yet, anti-abortion lawmakers are again threatening to
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The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that as a result of the bill's proposals,
This is not about fiscal responsibility. The CBO estimates that 'defunding' Planned Parenthood will increase the deficit by $300 million, the only provision in the health care portion of the bill that would increase the deficit.
This is a politically motivated attack that uses health care access as a pawn in a broader effort to erase reproductive rights. This is part of a long-standing strategy to restrict abortion access, shut down health centers, and make it harder for people, especially the most vulnerable, to get the care they need. It's an agenda that will worsen the health care crisis already gripping many communities.
This legislative effort comes at the same time the US Supreme Court is set to rule on
,
a case that could pave an additional path for lawmakers to defund Planned Parenthood health centers and strip away Medicaid patients' right to access sexual and reproductive health care from their trusted providers. Lawmakers and public officials hostile to reproductive health and rights are exploring every avenue to escalate restrictions on abortion access, 'defund' Planned Parenthood, and shut down health centers.
Make no mistake: New England is not immune to the fallout of these national attacks. Our state budgets cannot absorb the blow of losing Planned Parenthood services, our health care system cannot shoulder the burden, and our patients, neighbors, and loved ones cannot be left without care. If Planned Parenthood is defunded, the consequences would be dire.
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At this moment of national crisis, we must defend our basic freedoms. Planned Parenthood and abortion access are more popular than any political party or elected official. We will not allow politicians to hijack our health care system to score political points and impose their extreme beliefs on everyone else.
The time to act is now. Lawmakers, listen up: Planned Parenthood is not going anywhere. We will fight to protect our patients, our providers, and the care our communities need and deserve.
Amanda Skinner is the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Inc. Dominique Lee is the CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. Nicole Clegg is the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.
