Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today voted against a Republican bill that allows states to deny funding to health care providers that offer a full range of reproductive health care services:

“Allowing states to defund Planned Parenthood because politicians want to punish a health care provider only hurts women. 

“Planned Parenthood serves some of the most vulnerable women in our society. Ninety-seven percent of the services its 700 clinics provide are basic health care including breast exams, cervical cancer screenings, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and contraception.

“Nationwide, 80 percent of Planned Parenthood patients make less than $18,000 per year, and Planned Parenthood is often the only health care option for low-income women and women in rural communities.

“The effect of this callous effort by congressional Republicans will be that fewer women get the health care they need. That’s shameful.”