Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House, made a statement at Capitol Hill on Jan. 5, 2017, claiming that the Republican party will abolish all federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Ryan explains that the defunding of Planned Parenthood is all a part of the inevitable process the Republicans are undergoing in order to dismantle Obamacare.
Republicans in Congress have tried time and time again to revoke the funding placed into Planned Parenthood centers nationwide, therefore this is not the first time we have heard this threat.
This same threat once fueled a 16-day government shutdown in 2013, and has been stirring up trouble for far longer. Closed-mindedness fuels this movement, claiming that since the organization provides abortion services the federal government has no place supporting it. Yet, only 3% of Planned Parenthood’s health services include abortion services.
Planned Parenthood does far more than fuel some obnoxiously deemed controversial debate on the reproductive freedom of women everywhere. Planned Parenthood righteously provides health care services such as STD testing and treatment, contraceptive measures for women, education of sexuality sexual orientation, cancer screenings, AIDS/HIV programs, family planning programs, and more.
All these services benefit nearly 4.7 million people worldwide, 79% of those millions of people having incomes at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Thus, the vast majority of those benefitting from Planned Parenthood’s benevolence have but no other means to receive such quality care.
This service is detrimental to women everywhere, of all social classes, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and demographics. A threat on Planned Parenthood is a threat on the lives of women everywhere. Women deserve a right to reproductive freedom, quality health care, and contraception. Support the organization by educating yourself and others and most importantly by donating.
Do not let them win this fight. Do not let ignorance rob us of health care. Act in any way possible in order to ensure the safety and well-being of women nationwide. Women deserve health.
