Maroney's Plan To Fund Women's Health Care Moves Forward

From the Office of Sen. Maroney: The Human Services Committee voted to advance one of Senate Democrats' foremost priorities this legislative session, Senate Bill 4, "An Act Concerning Increased Funding to Planned Parenthood and Other Family Planning Clinics." If approved, the legislation would close a funding gap caused by the federal government's changes to the Title X Family Planning Program.

The vote to raise the bill by the Human Services Committee was required for the bill to receive a public hearing. All Democratic members of the Human Services Committee supported the bill. State Senator James Maroney (D-Milford) said he is supportive of this measure.

“Planned Parenthood provides crucial resources and education to many in our community, state and country,” said Sen. Maroney. “I am proud to stand with my Democratic colleagues in the state Senate to ensure Planned Parenthood is properly funded and positioned to serve the many people in our state that rely on their services.”

In response to a gag order issued by the current presidential administration prohibiting health care providers from counseling patients about abortion, Planned Parenthood announced it will no longer receive Title X funding to avoid it. Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, which operates 12 health clinics in Connecticut, would forego $2.1 million in federal funding under that rule, about 5 percent of its budget. While 20 states are challenging the gag order, a federal appeals court ruled the policy changes can take effect despite the lawsuits.

Senate Bill 4 would fill the funding gap, providing state Title X family planning clinics in Connecticut with an additional $2.4 million in funding.

Planned Parenthood of Southern New England statistics show that nearly 44,000 patients received services and support through Title X funding in 2017. One-third of those patients were under the age of 25, one-third of those patients earned less than $12,000, one-third were Latino and one-third were African American.

About James Maroney: Sen. Maroney was first elected to represent the 14th District (Milford) in 2018. Before being elected to the Senate, he was a State Representative for the 119th District from 2012-2014, where he served on the Higher Education Committee. Due to his distinguished service on the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, he was asked to serve on the Planning Commission for Higher Education and help develop a strategic plan for higher education in Connecticut.

This press release was produced by Office of Sen. Maroney. The views expressed here are the author's own.