Resolution 120621

..Title Respectfully urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to reject House Bill 2405 because it would halt state funding for important women's healthcare services. ..Body WHEREAS, House Bill 2405, titled the Whole Woman's Health Funding Priorities Act, would prevent state funding from reaching women's healthcare service providers that perform abortions despite the fact that these providers currently use no state funding to perform abortions; and WHEREAS, Although current law prohibits healthcare providers from using taxpayer dollars for abortions, House Bill 2405 would prohibit the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from providing funding to, or entering a contract with, healthcare providers that perform abortions even if the public funding is designated for services not related to abortions; and WHEREAS, House Bill 2405 would halt Department of Health funding for healthcare providers, such as Planned Parenthood, that provide important healthcare services for women including breast cancer and cervical cancer screening, sexually transmitted disease testing, contraception, sex education, and prenatal care; and WHEREAS, Preventive healthcare measures constitute 95 percent of the services provided by Planned Parenthood in Pennsylvania. Only five percent of Planned Parenthood's services in Pennsylvania are abortion procedures; and WHEREAS, In 2011, in Pennsylvania, Planned Parenthood conducted 44,087 breast cancer screenings, 207,631 sexually transmitted disease tests, and 41,313 cervical cancer tests. Planned Parenthood also provided birth control to 96,751 Pennsylvanians; and WHEREAS; Polls indicate that 65 percent of Pennsylvania residents support funding for family planning services; and WHEREAS, 33 of the 42 Planned Parenthood locations in Pennsylvania performed no abortions in 2011. House Bill 2405 would halt Department of Health funding to all of Planned Parenthood's 42 locations in Pennsylvania, jeopardizing the availability of a variety of crucial and affordable healthcare options to populations of women in underserved areas who may not otherwise have access to such services; now therefore, RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the City Council of the City of Philadelphia hereby respectfully urges the Pennsylvania General Assembly to reject House Bill No. 2405. FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Majority and Minority leadership of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Philadelphia Delegation of the Pennsylvania General Assembly as evidence of the grave concern of this legislative body. ..End