Rep. Scott Peters’ Statement Supporting Planned Parenthood

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) released the following statement following the House Judiciary Committee’s partisan hearing on Planned Parenthood:

“For more than 2.5 million women, children, and men – the majority of which fall below the poverty line – Planned Parenthood is a necessary primary healthcare provider. One in five American women has used Planned Parenthood for care in her lifetime. Their preventative care services reach far beyond family planning and contraception to 500,000 breast cancer screenings, 400,000 pap tests, and 4.5 million STI tests that are helping in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Federal funding, through grants and reimbursements, is providing an essential health lifeline in communities – including mine in San Diego – and in every state across this country.

“Today’s hearing was a political sideshow meant to undercut women’s healthcare. The idea that we would shut down the government over funding for Planned Parenthood’s healthcare services – as some extreme Members of Congress have suggested – is reckless and irresponsible. It is ironic that any effort to defund Planned Parenthood and the contraceptive services they provide would result in reduced access to family planning, an increase in unwanted pregnancies, and more abortions in our country.”

Video of Congressman Peters’ comments during today’s hearing can be seen HERE or by clicking the image below.

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Congressman Peters’ wife served on the board of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, and both have been active supporters of the organization for two decades.

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