Planned Parenthood is one of the nation’s leading providers of quality and affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as being the nation’s largest provider of sex education. Planned Parenthood operates more than 650 health centers throughout the United States, and provides an abundant amount of health services  Unfortunately, the new administration is planning to deny their right to governmental funding.

On January 6th 2017 the,  H.R. 354: Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2017 was assigned to a congressional committee where it will be considered and discussed  before possibly sending it on to the House or Senate as a whole.

The bill states, “For the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, no funds authorized or appropriated by Federal law may be made available for any purpose to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., or any affiliate or clinic of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., unless such entities certify that Planned Parenthood Federation of America affiliates and clinics will not perform, and will not provide any funds to any other entity that performs, an abortion during such period.”

For many years Planned Parenthood has faced controversy.  Planned Parenthood is America’s largest abortion provider. “Roughly one out of every four abortions in America” is carried out in a Planned Parenthood facility.  Data shows that since 1970, Planned Parenthood has performed more than 6 million abortions. In 2013 alone, Planned Parenthood performed a record 357,653 abortions. For some, this is a big issue, however for others it is  right.

However the main issue is not the defunding of abortions within Planned Parenthood, but the necessary services for men and women that will also lose government funding.  Per year, Planned Parenthood health centers provide birth control for 2 million people, as well as over 4 million STD tests and treatments, over 360,000 breast exams, and over 270,000 Pap tests.

Supporters of Defunding Planned Parenthood argue Women have other options for seeking primary care, contraception, STI testing, and cancer screening. While others argue that most of Planned Parenthood patients are from rural areas and low income families, having no other options.

The defunding of Planned Parenthood would result in detrimental restrictions and limit access to healthcare for many. According to their website approximately 60% of Planned Parenthood’s patients access health care at its health centers through publicly funded programs like Medicaid or Title X. If Planned Parenthood were defunded it would immediately block those people from accessing care at Planned Parenthood health centers.

Furthermore,  in 2012, Planned Parenthood provided 3.7 million women with contraceptives. If Planned Parenthood is defunded millions of women would suddenly become denied of their affordable birth control, which can put these women, especially those of which struggle financially at risk of having absolutely no contraceptives, ultimately increasing the amount of unwanted pregnancies.  

Though statistics show the amount abortions would be decreased if funding was cut, it may increase the rate of bigger health issues as disparate women may try to perform a home abortion. However you fall on the moral issue of pro-life or pro-choice. The fact is, as controversial as abortion is, the concept of defunding Planned Parenthood causes angst for millions of men and women, as the nation depends on the heaps of services they provide, and how they will be affected by the defunding of Planned Parenthood.