Contact: Iris Riis
608-256-7549 x2132
iris.riis@ppwi.org
MADISON – On Tuesday, Governor Tony Evers, along with other new members of the Democratic Governors Association, vowed to fight against politically motivated attacks on Title X, the nation’s family planning program.
Last week, the Trump-Pence administration issued a dangerous Title X gag rule that would ban providers participating in the Title X program from giving patients all options pregnancy counseling or referrals for abortion care. Title X funds are used to provide preventive care like cancer screenings, birth control, well woman exams and STD testing and treatment. No Title X funding can be used for abortion services.
“We are grateful that Gov. Evers is standing up against this dangerous gag rule. If implemented, the gag rule would threaten the care of more than 31,000 Wisconsinites. It is unethical to withhold information from patients, and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin would be forced out of the program if this gag rule were to go into effect,” said Tanya Atkinson, president of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin.
The letter comes after Gov. Evers unveiled the “Healthy Women, Healthy Babies” initiative that will be included in the state budget. These policies aim to increase access to high quality, affordable preventive reproductive health care, eliminate racial disparities in infant and maternal health outcomes and promote programs to support healthy pregnancies and births.
“It’s clear that Gov. Evers is committed to prioritizing women’s health care. We all should be able to agree on the importance of access to preventive health care like cancer screenings, birth control and STD testing and treatment. We applaud Gov. Evers for taking bold steps toward creating healthier communities throughout Wisconsin,” said Atkinson.
