TOPEKA — U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas endorsed the introduction of legislation to increase and protect funding to the federal family planning safety-net program after the Trump administration withheld millions of dollars for reproductive health clinics.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the pause in distribution of appropriated Title X funding allowed for investigation of possible violation of federal laws or executive orders. The review included compliance with Trump’s ban on promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policy.
“In Kansas and across the country, people are being turned away from the only places they can afford to get basic, lifesaving reproductive care — all because the Trump administration is playing politics with their health,” said Davids, a Democrat serving the 3rd District in eastern Kansas.
“This bill protects trusted providers and ensures access to cancer screenings, birth control and STI testing, no matter your income, where you live or how you vote,” she said.
THE PROPOSED Expanding Access to Family Planning Act would deliver federal funding to help sustain clinics serving an estimated 4 million people annually. In 2023, more than 1.5 million visits to Planned Parenthood health centers were made possible by the program.
Under the U.S. House bill ready for introduction Wednesday, annual federal funding for Title X would be shielded from Republican efforts to eliminate the program. The bill would deliver $512 million annually for 10 years and address the current funding shortfall. The proposal also would allocate $50 million for clinic construction, renovations and infrastructure improvements.
Davids said the legislation would protect Planned Parenthood from being excluded from federal appropriations by the Trump administration.
THE BILL WOULD reinstate federal regulations prohibiting discrimination against providers of Title X services, while ensuring comprehensive, affordable reproductive health care for patients regardless of income, race, immigration status or gender. It would make certain information and services related to prenatal care, delivery, infant care, foster care, adoption and pregnancy termination were provided.
The Guttmacher Institute, which works to protect sexual and reproductive health and rights, estimated the freeze by HHS could impact access to health care for up to 1.25 million people, many of whom had modest incomes, were people of color or lived in medically underserved communities.
“Data shows that restrictions appearing to target one type of reproductive health care have ripple effects on all aspects of reproductive care, including abortion and contraception,” said Kelly Baden, vice president of public policy at the Guttmacher Institute.
