NIRH Denounces Release Of Trump’s Discriminatory Gag Rule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2019
Contact: Noah Gardy, [email protected], 201-218-6310

Washington, DC– Today, the Trump-Pence administration released a final gag rule to undermine Title X, a federal program that provides significant and vital family planning services, often in underserved communities. The rule will force medical providers participating in Title X to withhold accurate and critical information from their patients about abortion care, and is designed to eliminate access to birth control, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screenings and prevention, cancer screenings, and other lifesaving reproductive health care.

The following is a statement from NIRH President Andrea Miller:

“It is nothing short of reckless and heartless to bar medical providers from offering quality health care and accurate information, including referrals for abortion. Medical providers should never have their hands tied in the name of cheap political points,” said Andrea Miller, President of the National Institute for Reproductive Health. “It is appalling that in spite of widespread opposition and clear negative effects of the gag rule, the Trump-Pence administration has decided to move forward with this harmful and discriminatory policy.

The gag rule rob millions of people, including low-income communities and communities of color, of accurate information about abortion as well as basic health care services. The National Institute for Reproductive Health will continue to provide states and cities with the tools they need to mitigate this hateful rule by passing proactive legislation that advances reproductive health, rights, and justice.”

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