The United States Congress's decision to approve a bill that leaves out proposed policy provisions that would have dramatically cut family planning services was applauded by reproductive rights supporters and activists. The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) praised Congress for approving the three-week government financing bill. Members of the House of Representatives have been pressing for budget cuts that would block federal funding for Planned Parenthood and gut numerous programs that assist in providing health services to poor women and their infants, pregnant women, and children, including Title X. The Office of Population Affairs at the US Department of Health and Humane Services defines Title X as the “Family Planning program” (Population Research and Voluntary Family Planning Programs) and was enacted in 1970 as Title X of the Public Health Service Act. Title X is the only federal grant program dedicated solely to providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and related preventive health services. The Title X program is designed to provide access to contraceptive services, supplies and information to all who want and need them. By law, priority is given to persons from low-income families. “Millions of American women and their families have, at least for the time being, dodged the myriad of brazenly anti-woman budget cuts under consideration. We're under no illusions that the debate around these terrible budget proposals has died out altogether, but we remain hopeful that the same common sense employed during budget negotiations over the last few days will win out in the end in Congress over irresponsible political posturing,” said Nancy Northup, head of CRR, in a press release. “It is quite evident that stripping funds from programs that provide essential medical services is more likely to jeopardize the health of millions of women and children than to dent the deficit. “Anti-choice lawmakers need to drop the charade. Lawmakers who care about women's health and rights need to forcefully beat them back whenever these programs may be on the chopping block in coming weeks,” Northup added. CRR was founded in 1992 by nationally recognized reproductive rights attorneys and activists, and they work in policy analysis, public education and legal work, according to their website. Earlier this month, the Center for Reproductive Rights called on lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to reject any proposed budget cut. The center then said that the proposed cuts was going to “gut numerous programs that assist in providing health services to poor women and their infants, pregnant women, and children.” BM
