News and Stories: Planned Parenthood of Indiana Reacts to U.S. Senate Vote to Reject Proposal to Bar Planned Parenthood from Receiving Federal Funds to Provide Preventive Health Care

Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) released the following statement today after the U. S. House passed and the Senate rejected a proposal that would bar Planned Parenthood from providing preventive health services including birth control, breast and cervical cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and HIV testing to patients who are covered by Medicaid and other federal programs.

 “Today, the U.S. Senate listened to millions of Americans and voted, 58-42, to reject an extreme  proposal to bar Planned Parenthood from providing preventive health services including birth control, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and STD testing and treatment to patients who are covered by Medicaid and other federal  programs.

“PPIN applauds the members of Congress who stood up for women’s health and voted against this proposal. This vote is a major victory for women’s health and the millions of women who go to Planned Parenthood for health care.

“Hundreds of thousands of Americans across the country made their voices heard in support of Planned Parenthood and opposed this radical proposal by calling Congress, writing and e-mailing their elected officials, and attending rallies. The grassroots support across Indiana for Planned Parenthood was widespread and deep. 

“This extreme proposal was rightly rejected by both Democrats and Republicans. Any member of Congress who voted for this extreme proposal just cast a vote against women’s access to lifesaving cancer screenings and birth control.  Here in Indiana, the defeat of this proposal by the U.S. Senate protects access to preventive health care for 22,000 Hoosiers. 

“Ninety-four percent of the health care PPIN provides — and 100 percent of the care it provides through federal programs — is preventive. We do not want one woman to be diagnosed with advanced cancer that our health centers could have detected early through screening, and we’re appalled that a fringe element of Congress would continue to put its narrow political agenda ahead of women’s health and safety.

“Thankfully, the Senate has made clear this extreme proposal is unacceptable and rejected it.”