PRESIDENT’S FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET REQUEST UNDERMINES ESSENTIAL SUPPORTS FOR WOMEN

Press release

PRESIDENT’S FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET REQUEST UNDERMINES ESSENTIAL SUPPORTS FOR WOMEN

March 19, 2019

(Washington, D.C.) — President Trump issued his 2020 Fiscal Year budget proposal, which:

  • Provides insufficient funding for the Title X Family Planning Program (at $286.5 million), while continuing regulatory efforts to fundamentally damage the program. Experts recommend the program receive at least $400 million in FY 2020.
  • Eliminates the evidence-based Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program in Fiscal Year 2020. Currently funded at $101 million, the TPP Program funds 81 competitive five-year grants in a wide variety of communities and settings across the country, using evidence-based approaches.
  • Cuts the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant by $17 million, from $678 million in fiscal year 2019 to a proposed level of $661 million for Fiscal Year 2020, despite increases in maternal mortality in the U.S.
  • Eliminates the Pregnancy Assistance Fund that provides competitive grants to states, tribes and territories to support pregnant and parenting teens and women, and combat violence against pregnant women.

In response, Ginny Ehrlich, CEO, Power to Decide, issued the following statement:

“The President’s budget proposal will hurt young people and women across the country because it restricts access to proven public health and health care programs that support their power to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child. This budget proposal, if implemented, could reverse the historic progress the country has made in improving access to information and care. In addition, programs that are focused on improving the health and well-being of expectant mothers, children and their families may not be there for them.  

“Our focus should be on finding innovative ways to implement systemic measures that can help ensure all people, regardless of who they are, where they live or what their economic status is, can access the full spectrum of reproductive health care. Further, with an increase in maternal mortality rates, we have a responsibility to help expand rather than restrict access to quality health care. That is why Power to Decide is urging Congress to provide robust funding for the TPP Program, the Title X Program, PREP, the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and other critical sources of funding that supports young people to have the power to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child.”

Power to Decide is pleased though to see the proposed one-year reauthorization of the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) at $75 million, but states ultimately need a multi-year reauthorization in order to plan and serve young people. PREP provides funding to states, communities and tribes to make evidence-based sexual health education accessible to young people. In addition, while Power to Decide is pleased to see the Title X Family Planning Program funded, the amount is far less than the need. At the same time, the Administration has released its final “domestic gag rule.” If implemented, the rule would have devastating consequences for the Title X Program and low-income women’s access to high-quality contraceptive care as well as information about and referrals for abortion care.

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.