Platts votes to defund PP
I write to voice my amazement at Congressman Todd Platts' recent vote to defund Planned Parenthood centers by supporting the Pence amendment (H.R. 3043, Amendment 594). The amendment specifically stated, "None of the funds made available under this Act shall be available to Planned Parenthood for family planning projects under Title X..." Fortunately, there were many more level-headed members of Congress who chose to support family planning and Planned Parenthood by defeating this amendment.
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The Title X (pronounced title ten) program provides preventive health care services, including contraception, breast exams, pap tests for early detection of cervical cancer or precancerous conditions, testing for high blood pressure, anemia, and diabetes, screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV screening, safer-sex counseling, etc. By law, no Title X funds may be spent on abortions.
As a longtime supporter and volunteer at Planned Parenthood of Central Pennsylvania (PPCP), I am in disbelief that Congressman Platts would vote to jeopardize the health and well being of his constituents.
Approximately 8 to 10% of Pennsylvanians do not have health insurance and many more working families are underinsured and cannot afford to pay for preventative health services. For a majority of our patients their only source of health care is PPCP. So, why did Congressman Platts vote to defund the major source of health care for thousands of women and men?
Taking away necessary preventive health care services is not the answer. Defunding Planned Parenthood doesn't solve any problems - it only creates more.
Robin K. Rohrbaugh
York Township
Doesn't PP have close to $1 billion dollars in reserve that they could be using to help women? You could always donate to them.