Civic Register
| 5.2.18

Anti-Abortion Groups, Planned Parenthood Clash Over Title X Funding

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What’s the story?

  • A coalition of 153 House members, 40 senators, and more than 85 pro-life advocates is urging the Trump administration to revise Title X regulations and cut off Planned Parenthood from family planning grants.
  • Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood, the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, and the American Civil Liberties Union announced they are suing the Trump administration over changes it made to the Title X program.


What is Title X?

  • Established in 1970 as part of the Public Health Service Act, Title X provides comprehensive family planning and related preventative health services primarily to low-income and uninsured individuals at little to no cost.


What changes do pro-abortion groups want?

  • In their letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, the anti-abortion activists called for Title X services to be physically and financially separate from facilities that provide abortion.
  • They also asked that HHS “eliminate the federal mandate requiring Title X providers to refer for abortions.”
  • Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), whose signature appeared on the letter, tweeted on Tuesday:


What is Planned Parenthood suing over?

  • In February, the HHS Office of Population Affairs released a document calling for changes to the Title X program, including prioritizing “fertility awareness” – also known as the rhythm method – over sexual health services.
  • Clare Coleman, president & CEO of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, told NPR that the administration’s approach to low-income patients is “disrespectful” and undermines Title X
“by shifting to a narrow, ideological vision of how people should live their lives: no sex until marriage; family participation at all ages; and natural family planning methods first and foremost.”


What do you think?

Should new rules be enacted to restrict Title X funding? Should family-planning clinics change the nature and focus of their services? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.


—Josh Herman


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(Photo Credit: Miss.Monica.Elizabeth / Creative Commons)