Senator Montgomery and members of the NYS Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus Oppose Proposed Changes to Title X Family Planning Grant Program Requirements

June 25, 2018

President Donald Trump
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

RE: An Open Letter to President Trump from the New York State Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus Regarding the Title X Proposed Rule

Dear President Trump:

We, the undersigned members of the New York State Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus (BPCLC) strongly urge the Trump administration to retract the Title X proposed rule, which seeks to deny Title X funding to health care facilities that provide abortion services or referrals. The BPCLC, with over 100 members in the New York State Senate and Assembly, works to protect access to quality reproductive health services, remove barriers to these services, ensure access to education about reproductive choices, and respond to any potential infringements on the legal right to reproductive healthcare in the State of New York. We are unreservedly opposed to this proposed rule, as it seeks to place harmful restrictions on recipients of Title X funding.

For over 40 years, Title X has enabled low-income, underinsured, and uninsured individuals to receive quality family planning and health care services that are patient-focused, medically accurate, and evidence based. Annually, over four million women and men nationwide trust and rely on Title X providers for their reproductive health care needs.

The Trump administration’s proposed rule is dangerous, as it would: require Title X providers to break their professional code of ethics, violate patient rights, and reduce access to safe, legal abortion. Physicians are obligated, legally and ethically, to provide comprehensive, unbiased medical care. Patients have the right to be fully informed of their medical options, including abortion; obtain the care they require; and receive a referral if needed. By restricting what doctors can do when providing reproductive healthcare, the Trump administration seeks to implement a “domestic gag rule” and defund Title X health care facilities that provide abortion, including Planned Parenthood.

The implications of the Trump administration’s proposed rule for women’s health could be severe. In cases where pregnancy threatens a woman’s health or life, and abortion is not an option, she faces the possibility of future infertility, severe health complications, or death. The current rate of maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States is significantly higher than in comparable countries, and would likely increase if this proposed rule is implemented. The unintended pregnancy rate, including teen pregnancy, on the other hand, is at an all-time low, but would likely increase if access to contraception decreases.

As State Legislators who stand for women’s equality and reproductive rights, we support the Title X program, we assert that reproductive healthcare decisions should be between a woman and her doctor, and we trust that a woman, once fully informed of her family planning and reproductive healthcare options, will make the right decisions for herself.

We respectfully submit that the Trump administration’s Title X proposed rule would have dangerous implications for our healthcare system, the doctor-patient relationship, and women’s health and well-being. We stand united in opposition to this harmful proposed rule.

Signed,

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Caucus Co-Chair

Assembly Member Ellen Jaffee, Caucus Co-Chair

Senator Liz Krueger, Caucus Co-Chair

Assembly Member Thomas J. Abinanti

Senator Marisol Alcantara

Senator Tony Avella

Assembly Member Didi Barrett

Senator Jamaal T. Bailey

Senator Brian A. Benjamin

Senator Neil D. Breslin

Senator John E. Brooks

Assembly Member David Buchwald

Assembly Member Kevin A. Cahill

Assembly Member Anthony D’Urso

Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz

Assembly Member Steve Englebright

Assembly Member Harvey Epstein

Assembly Member Patricia Fahy

Assembly Member Sandy Galef

Senator Michael Gianaris

Assembly Member Deborah J. Glick

Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried

Senator Jesse Hamilton

Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi

Senator Brad Hoylman

Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman

Assembly Member Kimberly Jean-Pierre

Assembly Member Addie Jenne

Senator Todd Kaminsky

Senator Brian Kavanagh

Assembly Member Barbara Lifton

Assembly Member Donna A. Lupardo

Assembly Member William B. Magnarelli

Assembly Member John T. McDonald III

Senator Shelley Mayer

Senator Velmanette Montgomery

Assembly Member Catherine Nolan

Assembly Member Steven Otis

Senator Kevin S. Parker

Assembly Member Amy R. Paulin

Assembly Member Christine Pellegrino

Assembly Member Crystal D.

Peoples-Stokes

Senator Jose Peralta

Senator Roxanne J. Persaud

Assembly Member Dan Quart

Senator Gustavo Rivera

Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal

Senator Diane J. Savino

Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright

Senator Luis R. Sepulveda

Senator Jose M. Serrano

Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon

Assembly Member Aravella Simotas

Assembly Member James Skoufis

Senator Toby Ann Stavisky

Assembly Member Steve Stern

Assembly Member Al Stirpe

Assembly Member Fred W. Thiele

For a copy of the letter, download the above PDF.

To learn more about Title X and its impact on our state, download the above PDFs.

To learn more about Senator Montgomery's work to protect women's access to healthcare, visit:

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/senator-montgomerys-2018-legislative-report

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/velmanette-montgomery/standing-womens-health-and-rights-senate-democrats

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/senator-montgomery-urges-legislative-leaders-pass

https://www.nysenate.gov/issues/womens-reproductive-health