Senator Montgomery and members of the NYS Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus Oppose Proposed Changes to Title X Family Planning Grant Program Requirements
June 27, 2018
An Open Letter to President Trump from the New York State Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus Regarding the Title X Proposed Rule
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:
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