Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011

Floor Speech

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Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to the C.R. put forward by the Republican majority, and specifically to the defunding of Title X family planning programs, authorized under the Public Health Service Act. Started in 1970 by President Nixon, Title X funding provides for voluntary family planning projects, and is essential to protecting women's health services.

Currently, Title X is our nation's only program dedicated to providing low-income Americans with family planning and reproductive health services. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are attempting to misconstrue Title X as federal subsidizing of abortion.

However, Title X does not provide for abortion services. But it does cover essential health care for millions of families and women.

From birth control to cancer screenings, approximately 5 million Americans rely upon Title X programs every year. In my hometown of Sacramento, I hear from women who tell me that if community health centers--like Planned Parenthood--close they would have nowhere else to go.

I also hear from health care providers, who tell me that if the local Planned Parenthood closes, they would not be able to absorb their patients.

For women who are unemployed or underemployed, often times they lack quality health coverage. That means that preventive health measures like cervical cancer screenings are financially unfeasible, so they turn to community health centers that receive Title X funding.

It means that care for pregnant women, who should deserve the best possible pre-natal care for their babies feel like they cannot afford to go to the doctor as often as they need to. So they turn to community health centers that receive Title X funding.

It means that young women, who are scared to talk to their parents about their sexual health, who want to seek out birth control and contraceptive measures, often before they become sexually active, but feel like they can't see their family doctor, turn to community health centers that receive Title X funding.

For all of these women, community health centers are their sole source of medical care. We simply cannot afford to cut the lifesaving and preventive care services for those who would not otherwise have access to such care, especially in our current economic climate.

Study after study shows that preventive care makes a healthier person. Preventive care creates healthier outcomes throughout one's life. And preventive care helps reduce health care costs, and will result in a healthier nation--both fiscally and physically.

Recently, I heard from one of my constituents, a woman named Cathy, who has been a health educator for the past 13 years. She started her teaching career at Planned Parenthood under Title X funded grants. Cathy said, ``Without knowledge and preventative services, we are bound to accrue more expenses in reactive verses pro-active measures .....'' The House version of the FY11 Continuing Resolution would cut millions of American women off from birth control, cancer screenings, HIV tests, and other lifesaving care.

This outrageous attack would have a devastating impact on the women, men, and teens in our community. For the thousands of women in Sacramento, who depend on the services that community health centers that Title X supports, I urge my colleagues to vote against this harmful amendment. The defending of these vital health programs contained in the C.R. will devastate women's health for generations to come. Increased costs, unintended pregnancies, and spikes in sexually transmitted diseases, would all be consequences of stripping this critical funding.

Millions of young women, all around this country are looking to their leaders in Congress for leadership. It is my hope that this body acts in their interests, and the interests of their families. We must not cut off their only access to medical care.

I once again urge my colleagues to vote against this irresponsible amendment. As a mother and a grandmother, I find it offensive, and shameful.

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