Over the summer, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services finalized a policy that denies organizations providing abortions or abortion referrals from receiving Title X federal family planning funds. As a result of this “domestic gag rule,” dozens of health centers have been forced from the Title X program, causing many to be in danger of closing due to lack of funds. Title X provides access to a variety of services: affordable birth control, STI testing and treatment, HIV testing, cancer screenings, and more.

Congress can include language in its 2020 funding bill that will protect Title X and block the gag rule from going into effect. The House of Representatives has already passed its bill that attempts to restrict this funding; however, the House’s protective language won’t take effect unless the Senate acts as well.

Action Needed Now:

ASAP before Dec 20, please reach out to both Senators Cardin and Van Hollen and urge them to include language in the FY2020 budget bill that disallows funding for implementation of this HHS “domestic gag rule.