POLICY CHANGES WILL POTENTIALLY AFFECT STUDENT HEALTH

OWEN HEMSATH
PRIDE STAFF WRITER

After a Planned Parenthood employee was filmed offering advice on how to get abortions for underage sex workers, House Republicans introduced a bill to deny funding to Planned Parenthood, reports CBS news.  According to the report, “House Republicans have proposed two bills that would add restrictions to federal funding of abortions. … Recently, activists targeted some of them with a video sting and [sic] the FBI is now investigating.”

The law, according to U.S. Code Title 18 part 1 chapter 109a, mandates that receivers of federal dollars report to authorities known instances of sexual abuse including statutory rape and human sex trafficking.  The alleged violation by Planned Parenthood has encouraged Republican lawmaker Congressman Mike Pence, R-IN, to introduce legislation that would defund the organization.     On his website, Pence justified the bill. “Every American should be shocked that an employee of the largest recipient of federal funds under Title X has been recorded aiding and abetting underage sex trafficking. The time to deny any and all funding to Planned Parenthood is now,” Pence said.

Pence also published an essay regarding his involvement with the controversial issue writing that allegations of apparent “fraud and abuse” by the abortion provider disqualifies the organization for federal funding.

In the same essay, he claims that the denial of funds will not affect the ability for women to access sexual health care services, as many other private service providers are available.

Opponents disagree, and according to www.theblaze.com, the bill’s supporters are ultimately trying to deny women the reproductive health services they need.  In a statement to NPR, Sarah Stoesz of Planned Parenthood Minnesota informed listeners that the majority of the company’s services are for reproductive health, family planning and cancer screening.  She added, “We’re here to support women, to offer the health services and information that they need, and then to allow them to make the best choice for them.”  The Blaze article quoted Planned Parenthood president, Cecile Richards responding to the bill. “We’ve been here for the past 95 years, and we’ll be here for the next 95.” The article went on the add that the bill would make it harder for private sexual health organizations, like the one across from Cal State San Marcos, to provide sexual health services.

In an interview with The Pride, Cathy Nguyen, a health educator at Student Health and Counseling Services, said that CSUSM student’s fees and funding from the state of California would enable the organization to assist students in reproductive health should Planned Parenthood not be able. She added that students could feel comfortable that SHCS operates legally. “Not only are we compliant with all state and federal laws, but we are also in compliance with [state and federal health laws] as well.”  She went on to say that “students can feel confident that everything is kept confidential,” adding, “We provide the same services as Planned Parenthood.”

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org