Statement From Senator Krueger On Assembly Bill To Defund Planned Parenthood

New York – State Senator Liz Krueger, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus, released the following statement today in reaction to the introduction of a bill (A9061) sponsored by Assembly Member Steve Katz to prohibit state and county funding for Planned Parenthood in New York:


“What a shame that New York has now joined the dubious list of states with legislation to withhold funding for vital reproductive health services. But even more shameful is that Assembly Member Katz justifies his bill by resorting to the same discredited litany of lies about Planned Parenthood that have been proven time and again to be nothing but a straw man manufactured to justify attacks on women’s healthcare decisions. A dozen state-level investigations have cleared Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing, and Congressional investigations have wasted countless taxpayer dollars chasing their own tails. In fact, the only illegal activity these investigations have uncovered is by the anti-choice extremists who originated these false accusations.
 
“Planned Parenthood provides vital services for women, men, and families throughout New York State. Many communities in New York face a shortage of primary care services as it is, and the oft-repeated claim that community health centers could pick up the slack of services provided by Planned Parenthood is simply not true. Now Assembly Member Katz wants to make an already precarious situation worse, particularly for low-income New York families.
 
“If Assembly Member Katz is so concerned about cost-effective healthcare outcomes, he should do his homework. In 2010, family planning providers saved $13.6 billion nationally, $7.09 for every public dollar spent, through preventing unintended pregnancy and reducing sexually transmitted infections. But unfortunately it seems that the Assembly Member is more interested in gaining political points by attacking a woman’s right to choose. There could not be a clearer example of why more work is needed to safeguard women’s reproductive rights and to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade into New York State law."

 
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BACKGROUND:
Planned Parenthood is the most trusted women’s healthcare provider in the country, having delivered high-quality care for nearly 100 years, and it is the nation’s leading provider of reproductive healthcare and sex education to women, men, and young people. It is also is an important safety net provider for millions of low to middle-income Americans. In 2013, nationally, Planned Parenthood provided birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and other services to 2.8 million patients, and sex education to 1.5 million people. More than 6 in 10 women who receive care at a family planning center consider it their primary, or only, source of care. One in five women in America will receive care from a Planned Parenthood provider at some point in their lives.  In 2013, 1,228,700 women in New York were in need of publicly supported contraceptive services and supplies. Planned Parenthood affiliates across the state are also critical in teen pregnancy prevention.