After some time away, I returned to the office today and learned about the House's vote last week that will eliminate federal funding from Planned Parenthood. I immediately thought back to my days in Mississippi when, even with federal funding for Planned Parenthoods, I had to drive two hours to Memphis to obtain easy access to birth control, emergency contraceptives, same-day-results HIV/AIDS testing, all of which are vital to reproductive health. Such barriers to access are unacceptable, and some members of Congress only want to put up more. Knowing that such a significant majority - 240 to 185 - of the House supported these cuts is truly disturbing.
An excerpt we're leaving with Maine's Congressional Delegation in meetings this week:
"Planned Parenthood is an integral piece of our health care delivery system. For more than 90 years, it has provided low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women and families with vital reproductive health care services. It serves more than 4 million individuals in 49 states across the country. In some states, Planned Parenthood is the only provider serving lowincome people. Defunding Planned Parenthood sidelines trusted, competent providers who are an integral part of their communities and jeopardizes women’s health. The burden of this lost funding would fall most heavily on the most vulnerable populations."
Let me be clear: if you live in the United States, your reproductive health and freedom is under attack and it is at risk. Please call Senators Snowe and Collins and ask them to be vocal supporters of reproductive freedom, as they have in the past. You can reach them through the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Also, please take a moment to sign an open letter to Maine's Congressional Delegation letting them know you stand with Planned Parenthood.
