WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) joined Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in introducing the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act. The bill would protect access to critical reproductive health care services—like birth control, cancer screenings and more—by providing a consistent and strong source of funding for the Title X Family Planning Program.
“At a time when women across this country are facing harsh restrictions on their reproductive freedoms, we must ensure they have access to the health care services and resources they need,” dijo el Senador Rosen. “This commonsense legislation is critical to ensuring access to family planning, counseling, cancer screenings and other vital health care services. If Republicans are serious about supporting families, then they will support this critical legislation.”
“Women should have control over their reproductive future,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “The Title X Family Planning Program is critical for women, giving them the resources they need to plan a family, access pregnancy counseling and infertility support, and receive life-saving screenings for breast and cervical cancer. A dedicated, consistent stream of Title X funding will go a long way to support women and their families.”
The Title X Family Planning Program is the only federal program dedicated to providing comprehensive family planning and preventive health services. Hundreds of thousands of Americans rely on the program for essential health care. In 2020 alone, over 1.5 million patients received family planning services through Title X. Title X is funded through the annual appropriations process, which subjects the program to an unpredictable funding stream that is insufficient to meet the national need. The Senators’ Expanding Access to Family Planning Act would provide a consistent and strong source of funding for Title X.
Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto have long advocated for women’s reproductive rights. Last week, Senator Rosen joined Senator Cortez Masto and dozens of her Senate colleagues in introducing the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act, which would make clear that it is illegal for anti-choice states to limit women’s travel for reproductive care. Senator Rosen helped introduce the Women’s Health Protection Act, and in June, both Senators voted in support of the legislation to protect access to reproductive health care and safeguard against dangerous state-level abortion bans and restrictions. Senator Rosen also joined 33 of her Senate colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to take bold action to protect reproductive rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
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