POWER TO DECIDE STATEMENT ON SENATE FY 2022 LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND EDUCATION SPENDING BILL
(Washington, D.C.) — Yesterday, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee released draft spending bills for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, including those that fund Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS) and Financial Services and General Government (FSGG).
The LHHS spending bill includes $500 million for the Title X Family Planning Program, an increase of $213.5 million over the current funding level. The bill also includes $130 million for the evidence-based Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program, an increase of $29 million over the current funding level.
It also eliminates funding for abstinence-only programs in appropriations.
Finally, neither the harmful Hyde Amendment nor the ban on coverage of abortion care for Medicaid beneficiaries in DC are included.
In response, Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, CEO of Power to Decide issued the following statement:
“We are thrilled by the bold action taken by the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide robust funding increases for the TPP and Title X Programs. The increased investments would help ensure more people have access to the reproductive health services and information they need and deserve. In addition, the historic boost in funding for the Title X program would help reverse the damage done by the domestic gag rule.
“We are also thankful that the bills eliminate restrictions on abortion care that have resulted in too many being denied the care they need solely because of their income and zip code.
“We thank the members of the Senate who championed these programmatic increases and significant policy changes. We urge the Senate to pass these bills with the current funding levels for the TPP and Title X programs and without restrictions on access to abortion care. Such action will help ensure more people have the information and access to care they need to achieve the futures they want for themselves and their families.”
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 or have a child. Please visit us at www.PowerToDecide.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
