Chu Rejects GOP's Latest Attack on Women's Health

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32) today voted against the Republican Party's latest attack on women's health care. The Republican-Pence legislation, H. Con. Res. 36, passed the House and cuts off all federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

"If this extremist piece of legislation becomes law, it will mean a devastating blow to the millions of families who depend on Planned Parenthood's services," said Chu. "It is unconscionable to think that in these tough economic times, a political party would even consider stripping away someone's only source of affordable health care."

Federal law already prohibits federal funding for abortions, contrary to Republican claims, this bill has nothing to do with abortions. Instead this legislation directly targets the preventive family planning that Planned Parenthood provides. More than 90 percent of the health care provided by Planned Parenthood is preventive care, and 75 percent of women who use Planned Parenthood health centers have incomes below 150 percent of the poverty line.

Every year, Planned Parenthood health centers provide:
* Contraception to nearly 2.5 million patients
* Nearly 1 million Pap tests, identifying about 93,000 women at risk of developing cervical cancer
* 830,000 breast exams, helping alert patients to possible cancers

In California alone, 680,000 patients would lose access to health care if the Republican-Pence legislation is passed into law.

"Today marks the 100th day of Republican leadership in the House -- and for 100 straight days the Republican majority has not put forward a single bill that creates jobs. Instead of trying to put Americans back to work, they are trying to take away health care from those who struggle to afford it most."

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