Attorney General Becerra Opposes Trump-Pence Rule that Restricts Women's Health and Requests Meeting

SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today submitted a letter to the federal government opposing the proposed regulation Compliance with Statutory Program Integrity Requirements, released on May 20, 2018, and requesting a meeting with the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to share California’s concerns. The regulation would severely change and undermine the Title X family planning program.

“The Trump-Pence Administration is seeking to end access to critical, constitutionally-protected reproductive healthcare. California has made great strides in advancing women’s healthcare and rights. We are not looking to go backwards,” said Attorney General Becerra. “Medical care and informed medical decisions are matters between a woman and her doctor, not politicians and bureaucrats.” 

“This ruling is an outright assault on the fundamental rights and freedoms of women across America. It will prevent doctors, nurses and healthcare providers from doing their jobs and result in millions of women going without the basic healthcare they need. We’ve reached the absolute rock-bottom of hypocrisy when this President, with his laundry-list of indiscretions, would dare to deny family-planning services to millions of Americans on the grounds that it is immoral. I stand with Attorney General Xavier Becerra and California Legislative Women’s Caucus in our unflinching support of Planned Parenthood and the millions of Americans who demand the freedom to control their own reproductive health,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins.

“The recent attacks by the Trump Administration on women’s basic rights will limit the ability of Californians to access critical reproductive health care services. Make no mistake about it: this is a blatant attack on abortion rights and health care for women. We will continue to resist!” said Senator Connie M. Leyva, Vice Chair of California Legislative Women’s Caucus.

“It’s appalling that someone who doesn’t know the difference between HIV and HPV is playing politics with women’s reproductive care. Title X provides birth control, cancer screenings and HIV tests to over four million Americans. This proposal is a direct attack on women’s health, plain and simple. California will do everything we can to ensure all women have access to the reproductive and health care services they need and deserve,” said Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson.

“As a California legislator, I promise to stand up against the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the nation’s family planning program. As a woman, I vow to continue that fight until the threat to our collective health and safety is over,” said Assemblymember Laura Friedman. 

“The actions by the Trump Administration are blatant, obvious, and cruel. They are a direct attack to women’s health and women’s rights, and most importantly, human rights. For many individuals, Planned Parenthood is their primary source of healthcare and the provider they most trust with their healthcare needs. The lack of Title X funds to groups like Planned Parenthood will jeopardize access to comprehensive health care for millions of Americans,” said Assemblymember Eloise G. Reyes.

“I remain very concerned about the federal administration’s continuous attacks on women’s rights and on critical healthcare partners such as Planned Parenthood. As a member of the Legislative Women’s Caucus, I will not stop fighting for the reproductive rights of women despite this new rule. This actions merits a long range discussion and I hope the administration will come to the table,” said Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove.

“This is an unprecedented attack on the rights of women in this day and age,” said Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo. “Low-income women already struggle to access full reproductive health care services. Recent studies found that 1 in 5 women have to drive more than 40 miles one-way to reach an abortion clinic and this proposal will only exacerbate these long-standing inequalities.”

“The Trump Administration’s proposed rule will put the health and lives of millions of women at risk. No woman should be denied access to lifesaving family planning and reproductive health services, or basic information about her own health. Period. President Trump is threatening women's rights, and California will not stand for it,” said Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.

“This is patriarchy at its worse,” said Senator Nancy Skinner, “ If Planned Parenthood was Men’s Health Inc. this defunding would never be on the table.”

California benefits from the largest Title X program in the nation, which funds healthcare providers throughout the State to support preventive care, including critical reproductive healthcare.  California’s Title X family planning program collectively serves more than one million women, men, and teens annually—over 25% of all Title X patients nationwide—through 59 healthcare organizations, operating nearly 350 health centers in 37 of California’s 58 counties. 

In the letter, Attorney General Becerra requests a meeting with the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide facts and details on the negative impact the regulation would have on families in California. He stresses that the regulation would significantly undermine California’s framework for protecting public health and negatively impacts the health and wellbeing of many California residents and their families. It would impose substantial direct and indirect costs on the State. Attorney General Becerra urges the Administration to withdraw the harmful regulation for the good of all families who depend on Title X family planning services. 

A copy of the letter is attached to the electronic version of this release at oag.ca.gov/news.