Hirono Urges Trump to Protect Women’s Health

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono and 33 Senate Democrats sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump urging him to oppose any efforts by Republicans to restrict federal funding from supporting Title X family planning centers.

“President-elect Trump, women across the country have reason to be deeply concerned about the impact your administration could have on their health, their access to care, and therefore their economic security,” wrote the Senators. “We urge you to take clear position in favor of women’s health by supporting access to birth control and family planning services at Planned Parenthood and other Title X clinics nationwide.”

The Senators call on President-elect Trump to implement the final Title X rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services on Dec. 14, 2016.

This final rule reinforces existing protections in the Title X program to ensure no qualified health care provider, such as Planned Parenthood, is excluded from eligibility for federal funding.

The final Title X rule strengthens protections for women and LGBT individuals to ensure they can continue to access safe and affordable health care.

The Title X family planning provider network is the only federal grant program dedicated solely to providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and related preventive health services.

Four out of 10 women who received care at health centers funded by Title X consider it to be their only source of health care.