After Republicans Sneak In Plan To Defund Planned Parenthood To The “Big, Ugly Betrayal,” Democrats Fight Back And Reduce Penalty From Ten Years To Just One; But, Noxious Provision Will Still Devastate Healthcare For Millions Of Americans; Democrats Vow To Keep Fighting

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) released the following statement after it was announced that Republicans’ plans to dramatically cut Planned Parenthood’s funding was allowed into the reconciliation legislation, but Democrats succeeded in lowering the statute from ten years to one year:

“Republicans gave the green light to defund Planned Parenthood — a cruel, backdoor abortion ban that puts politics over people’s lives. This is another step in Republicans’ crusade against women’s healthcare and stripping away basic rights.

“Though Senate Democrats fought tooth and nail in the Byrd Bath process – forcing Senate Republicans to drop their defund Planned Parenthood provision from a decade to just one year –  this will still wreak havoc on health care for millions. One in four abortion providers could disappear and access to birth control, cancer screenings, and basic reproductive care would vanish in communities that have nowhere else to turn.

"Republicans also brazenly tried to reduce access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare covered by ACA marketplace plans in this Big, Ugly Bill – Senate Democrats successfully fought that, protected a women’s right to healthcare, and we won’t stop fighting to protect reproductive freedom.

"Republicans aren’t hiding their agenda: they want to shut down Planned Parenthood, outlaw abortion, and roll back the clock on women’s rights. Democrats will keep fighting to stop them.”  

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