NIRH Denounces Trump-Pence Administration’s Plan to Reinstate Domestic ‘Gag Rule’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2018
Contact: Stephanie Reichin
E: [email protected]
C: 617.549.3745

New Rule Would Make it Impossible for Patients to Get Birth Control and Abortion Care Across the Country

Statement from National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) President Andrea Miller

Today, the Trump-Pence administration took its latest step to restrict and withhold resources from providers and clinics that provide abortions or refer patients for abortion care. Congress and many state legislatures already currently withhold nearly all public health coverage for abortion, creating unjust obstacles to care for those struggling to get by and severely restricting their ability to get abortion care. The forthcoming rule would take away resources for birth control, STI screenings and prevention, cancer screenings, and other lifesaving care, with devastating consequences for women. The National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) urges the administration to rescind its reckless decision – and pledges to work with cities and states to find creative ways to use their resources and powers to mitigate the harmful effects of this rule going into effect.

The following is a statement from NIRH President Andrea Miller:

“We are appalled by the Trump-Pence administration’s latest reprehensible attack on women’s reproductive health, rights and justice. The impending gag rule is a blatant attempt to push not only abortion but the full range of family planning care out of reach. It would deny women the right and ability to access medically accurate information from trusted health care providers and leave many without access to the abortion and contraceptive care they need.

“Clinics that rely on federal funding are often the only providers of reproductive health care in their communities. The unconscionable burden of the Trump-Pence administration’s decision would fall hardest on women who already face tremendous barriers, particularly low-income women, young people, and women of color. State and local leaders must act as a bulwark in the face of the Trump administration’s unprecedented attack on women’s health care.

“The National Institute for Reproductive Health will continue to provide states and cities with the tools they need to mitigate the devastating impact of a restriction such as this one – by using their budgets and regulatory powers to step in where the federal government is failing, and by passing proactive legislation that advances reproductive health, rights and justice.”

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The National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) builds power at the state and local levels to change public policy, galvanize public support, and normalize women’s decisions about abortion and contraception.