SENATE LHHS SUBCOMMITTEE PROPOSES HISTORIC NEW FUNDING FOR ABORTION & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE

Press release

SENATE LHHS SUBCOMMITTEE PROPOSES HISTORIC NEW FUNDING FOR ABORTION & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE

July 28, 2022

(Washington, DC) Today, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) released its funding bill for FY2023, including a proposal for a groundbreaking new Reproductive Health Access Fund, as well as increased investments of $512M for the Title X family planning program and $130M for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program. The bill would also eliminate the Hyde Amendment and other abortion restrictions that disproportionately harm those who struggle to make ends meet.

The following can be attributed to Power to Decide Vice President of Policy & Strategic Partnerships Rachel Fey:

“Power to Decide applauds Subcommittee Chair Patty Murray and all of her Senate colleagues who have taken a stand to ensure that all people—no matter who they are, where they live or how much they make—have meaningful access to the resources and care they need to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child.

“Boosting funding for the Title X and TPP programs would go a long way toward supporting the reproductive and sexual health of young people, and those struggling to make ends meet.

“Significantly, this bill not only repeals the harmful Hyde Amendment but takes the additional step of proposing an historic new federal abortion fund to assist those seeking access to abortion care with the financial support they might need including transportation, child care and other related costs.

“Like its companion bill in the House of Representatives, these increases in funding for reproductive health care and education are the kind of bold action necessary in this moment,” said Fey. “As threats to reproductive rights and well-being continue to escalate, we call on Congress to pass a funding bill that meets this moment and the needs of our most vulnerable communities.”