Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28), and Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-03) led 143 of their House colleagues in sending a letter to Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee leaders urging Congress to reject the Trump administration’s efforts to halt federal support for Title X family planning and to fund the program, allowing it to resume its important work.  The members also requested that Congress increase funding for Title X to $512 million in the upcoming appropriations package.  Since 2015, the program has been flat funded at $286.5 million per year despite increased need and use around the country.

“Title X is the only federal program dedicated to providing domestic family planning services for people with low incomes and has received bipartisan recognition as a critical public resource,” the members wrote. “Title X-funded health centers are lifelines in their communities, providing high-quality family planning and sexual health care, including cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, HIV testing, contraceptive services and supplies, pregnancy testing, and other essential health care services. In 2023 alone, Title X was able to support care at 3,853 health centers across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and the ensuing health care crisis, it is more essential than ever to protect and support access to all reproductive and sexual health care, including contraception. 

“It is outrageous that the administration is weaponizing a false definition of DEI to target Title X service providers and the program itself,” the members continued.  “A federal program’s ability to provide care to people from historically marginalized and underserved communities does not make it wrong or illegal. Withholding Title X funds will only harm communities that otherwise might not have access to care. It is critical that the program continues to be funded robustly, and the program's integrity and its providers protected.” 

To read the full text of the letter, click here.