Statement Regarding Proposed Elimination of Title X Funding in House Labor-H Appropriations Bill

Nomsa Khalfani, PhD, Co-CEO, Essential Access Health

The House Labor Health and Human Services and Education appropriations subcommittee released its fiscal year 2023-2024 appropriations bill. The measure calls for the elimination of the federal Title X family planning program and proposes other deep and harmful cuts to public health. Although the bill is one step in what is expected to be a contentious federal budget cycle, it reflects priorities indicated by the majority in the House.

“The House majority’s proposal to eliminate the federal family planning program puts extremism over public health and safety. It disregards the realities people are facing nationwide and ignores the essential role the ability to decide if and when to be pregnant plays in individual, family, and community health and economic security.

“This is not the first time we have seen attempts to gut Title X, but the draft appropriations bill released this cycle is particularly out-of-step and harmful in the current landscape, with abortion access banned or severely restricted in more than half of the country.

“For over fifty years, Title X – which was established with bi-partisan support in 1970 - has been a critical part of our nation’s health care safety-net and has provided a pathway for millions of patients with low-incomes across the country to get essential and time-sensitive health care like birth control, STI prevention and treatment, and cancer screenings. The program has been level-funded for nearly a decade as the need for services and costs of providing care have increased.

“The majority of patients served by the program are Black and Latine/x who live at or below the federal poverty line. For an individual, that means earning $14,580 or less this year. Far too many are having a hard time just making ends meet, and without Title X, millions would be left without access to life-changing and life-saving health services.

“Eliminating Title X isn’t only bad for public health, it is in direct conflict with public sentiment on the issue. Polling has consistently showed overwhelming support for birth control regardless of gender, race, region, income, and political and religious affiliation. According to a poll released last year, most Republican voters — 84 percent – support it.

“As work on the federal budget continues, we call on Congressional leaders to protect Title X and ensure the program has the resources needed to support sexual and reproductive health for all in every state.”

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Essential Access Health is the Title X grantee for California and Hawai’i.

Title X supports the delivery of equitable, affordable, inclusive, and person-centered family planning services. California’s Title X provider network collectively operates nearly 400 clinic sites. Title X funding has recently been re-introduced in Hawai’i and has helped expand access to family planning services at more than 30 sites across the Hawaiian islands. Title X providers include federally qualified health centers, City and County health departments, universities, hospitals, Urban Indian and Native Hawaiian health centers, rural health clinics, Planned Parenthood affiliates, and stand-alone sexual and reproductive health sites. Learn more at www.essentialaccess.org