Policy Resolution HHS-16-08

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood has provided health care services to millions of individuals in nearly the century it has been operating;

WHEREAS, 42 percent of Planned Parenthood services are Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)/Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) testing & treatment; 34 percent are contraception; 11 percent of women’s health services, and 9 percent are dedicated cancer screenings;

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named family planning, including access to contraception one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20^th  century;

WHEREAS, 14 percent of Planned Parenthood patients were African American in 2013;

WHEREAS, 78 percent of Planned Parenthood patients lived at 150 percent of the federal poverty level or less in 2014;

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood provides invaluable services, including nearly 400,000 pap tests, nearly 500,000 breast exams, and nearly 4.5 million tests and treatments for STI’s yearly; and

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood global works in 13 countries in Latin America and Africa, to provide thousands of men, women, and young people with sexual and reproductive health education.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, in a time of unrelenting attacks on access to reproductive health care services throughout the United States and especially in our communities, it is imperative that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) stands up and supports Planned Parenthood and their mission to provide critical and life-saving health care services.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, NBCSL affirms the importance of healthcare access in our communities, and the foundational role it plays in ensuring all of our families are able to lead healthy and productive lives; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of  Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

• SPONSOR: Representative Nikki Randall (GA)
  
• Committee of Jurisdiction: Health and Human Services Policy Committee
• Certified by Committee Co-Chairs: Representative Mia Jones (FL) and Senator Shirley Nathan Pulliam (MD)
• Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 4, 2015
• Ratification is certified by: Senator Catherine Pugh (MD), President