Planned Parenthood | Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund

Appropriations Bill passes, A Victory for Women’s Health

March 11, 2009 11:14:00

by Rachel

Web Correspondent

Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund

Yesterday, the Senate voted on the Appropriations bill that was introduced and vetoed under the Bush administration. And guess what? It passed! This bill contains many measures funding common sense provisions supporting women’s reproductive health care, reducing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. It includes ensuring that abstinence-only funding is contingent on teaching scientifically accurate information and funding increases for domestic and international health programs. And it fixed the affordable birth control crisis! What a fantastic victory!

The House was able to pass the bill, however, in the Senate many anti-choice amendments were proposed to strip the bill of many of the gains Planned Parenthood has fought for. Senator DeMint (R-SC) filed an amendment to remove funding for affordable birth control. The affordable birth control fix restores access to affordable birth control for college and low-income women that was removed inadvertently by the Deficit Reduction Act in 2005.

This amendment never came up for a vote, but Senator DeMint then offered another amendment attempting to block the Obama administration from reversing the dangerous HHS regulation set by the Bush administration in the final hours before leaving office. The Obama administration has issued an order to rescind the HHS Refusal Rule. Senator Vitter (R-LA) also filed an amendment to block Title X funds from going to Planned Parenthood. While this amendment did not go up for a vote many Senators were ready to defend Planned Parenthood and its mission.

A final anti-choice amendment, introduced by Senator Wicker (R-MS) that would have restricted US funding to the United Nations Population Fund was defeated by the Senate. Thankfully there are Senators that will stand up against anti-choice legislation. With their help, and some luck, the omnibus 2009 Appropriations bill passed the Senate, and President Obama will undoubtedly sign it. A huge thanks goes out to all the legislators who supported and fought for these measures and another huge thank you goes out to all you fantastic activists who contacted your Senators and Representatives! This is an important step to investing in woman’s health as a priority in the United States