POWER TO DECIDE PLEASED THAT CONGRESS PASSED APPROPRIATIONS BILL WHICH INCLUDES FUNDING FOR KEY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS

(Washington, D.C.) — Last night Congress passed an omnibus appropriations bill, the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021,” which funds the federal government through September 30, 2021. The bill also includes provisions which extend expiring health programs and provides some relief funding to help address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The omnibus includes level funding for key reproductive well-being programs including $286.5 million for the Title X Family Planning Program and $101 million for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPP Program).
• Attached to the omnibus is a measure to extend the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) for three years at $75 million annually.

“Power to Decide is pleased that Congress provided funding to support critical programs including the Title X Family Planning Program and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program through FY 2021 and to provide some COVID relief funding,” said Gillian Sealy, Interim CEO, Power to Decide. “We are also gratified with the long-term extension of the Personal Responsibility Education Program through 2023. This multi-year extension will allow states to plan for the long-term and be strategic in their approaches to sexual health information for young people who need it most. We’re thankful to the bipartisan effort that made this possible.” 

Unfortunately, the bill does not eliminate the domestic gag rule or the Hyde Amendment. The gag rule has severely damaged the Title X Program and the Hyde Amendment disproportionately harms people of color and people of low income, putting access to abortion care financially out of reach. 

“It is unfortunate that Congress missed an opportunity to undo the damage of the domestic gag rule,” continued Sealy. “It is also disappointing that the bill includes the Hyde Amendment because it removes access to abortion care for those struggling to make ends meet.

“We look forward to working with President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris and the 117th Congress to reverse the damage from these harmful restrictions and work to help every person have the power to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child.” 

Power to Decide is a private, non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to ensure all people—no matter who they are, where they live or what their economic status might be—have the power to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child. Please visit us at www.PowerToDecide.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.