The Senate Committee on Education & Health voted Thursday to report Del. Ben Cline’s (R – Lexington) HB 1090, which would defund women’s health centers across Virginia, including Planned Parenthood affiliates.
While a significant number of advocates came to the General Assembly in order to oppose the bill, the committee chose to limit testimony to just five minutes.
Said Sen. Mamie Locke (D – Hampton), “Defunding women’s health centers won’t prevent abortions — it will cause more of them. Planned Parenthood provides family planning services, which help women to make the best possible choice about when to start or grow a family. Even from the perspective of its patron, this bill is shortsighted and counterproductive.”
Said Sen. Janet Howell (D – Fairfax), “I am deeply disappointed that Republicans would put an ideological crusade ahead of women’s health. Planned Parenthood provides access to countless crucial services — from cancer screenings to family planning to testing for STIs. Virginia women need and deserve access to that care.”
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