War on Women

Dear Mr. Whitworth,



As I work to address the needs of American families and businesses at home and across the country, it is important that I hear your views and concerns. I appreciate you taking the time to contact my office and I am happy to address your concerns regarding Planned Parenthood and Title X programs. I realize this is a very sensitive issue to many of my constituents, and I appreciate hearing your thoughts.



As you may know, the House of Representatives passed a bill, H.R. 1, early on February 19, 2001, which would fund the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year 2011, running through September 30, 2011. An amendment was offered which would discontinue federal funding to any organization that provides abortion services, essentially targeting Planned Parenthood. I voted against that amendment because I believe the family planning and preventive health services offered by Planned Parenthood are highly valuable to women across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the nation. Additionally, no federal dollars that go to Planned Parenthood can be used to pay for abortion services.



It is critically important that Congress works to reduce our deficit and debt, but I do not believe that spending cuts should take important health and family planning services away from women who could not otherwise afford them. Since Planned Parenthood is already prevented under federal law from using federal dollars for abortion services, this amendment would only endanger millions of at risk women. I disagree with stripping funding for vital medical and preventive services such as cancer screenings, HIV tests, and reproductive health services, and I will continue to fight attempts to slash their already limited funding.



Again, thank you for contacting me on this important issue. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me in the future for more information or if I can help in any way. If you would like to stay informed of my work, or to sign up for my e-newsletter, please visit my web site at www.house.gov/Schwartz.


Sincerely,

Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz