"House bars Planned Parenthood from federal funding"

As most of you may have already heard, the House of Representatives has passed a measure that would strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding via the Title X program.

According to Feministe writer, Jill, "by law, federal funds haven’t paid for abortions since the 1970s, so the House hasn’t voted to cut abortion funding. They’re cutting funding for the entire Title X program — funding for contraception, cancer screening, STI tests, sex education, mammograms, HIV testing and diagnosis, and pregnancy screening and counseling. Title X is the only federal program dedicated solely to providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and preventive health services, particularly low-income families. Last year, 5 million people benefited from the services funded by Title X."

To read the entire article, click here.

How does this pertain to you?

For those that live in Minnesota, like me, 95% of counties here in MN have no abortion provider, according to Pro-Choice America. In Minnesota alone, there are 24 health centers that are operated by Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota. Of those 24 health centers, only one of them, the St. Paul clinic of Highland Park, offers abortion services.

Now, on a more local level, the Planned Parenthood St. Cloud Clinic's "4NOW services are supported in part with funds provided by: Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Family Planning Program, and United States Department of Health and Human Services - Title X."

Without the funding of the Title X program, our St. Cloud Planned Parenthood clinic many lose funding for contraception, cancer screening, STI tests, sex education, mammograms, HIV testing and diagnosis, and pregnancy screening and counseling.

Stand with Planed Parenthood and send an open letter to the congress to protest against the Pence Amendment to H. R. 1.

You know it's the right thing to do.