Representative Sharice Davids joined a group of lawmakers in introducing the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act. This legislation aims to protect and increase funding for Title X, the only federal program dedicated to comprehensive family planning and preventive health services.
For over 50 years, Title X has been vital in providing services such as birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing, reaching 4 million people annually. However, the Trump Administration has frozen millions in Title X funding, affecting 16 organizations and reducing resources for Planned Parenthood, which serves tens of thousands of patients annually. This funding freeze threatens access to care for 1.25 million people, many of whom are low-income or live in underserved communities.
The Expanding Access to Family Planning Act would:
- Guarantee stable, annual funding of $512 million for 10 years, addressing funding shortfalls and supporting essential services.
- Protect providers from exclusion, as seen with the “domestic gag rule,” and ensure non-discriminatory access to services.
- Ensure comprehensive reproductive health care for all, including prenatal care, pregnancy options, and adoption services.
Last week, Davids led over 160 Democrats urging Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restore Title X funding immediately.
