Click HERE to view Senator King’s Remarks

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) voted against proceeding to a bill that would have stripped Planned Parenthood of its federal funding. Prior to that vote, Senator King delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of Planned Parenthood and the quality, affordable health care services the organization provides to almost 3 million women, men, and young people every year.

“Ninety seven percent of the activities of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its associated facilities have nothing to do with abortion. They have to do with women's health,” Senator King said in his remarks. “They have to do with cancer screening. They have to do with contraception. They have to do with early detection. The three percent that do involve abortion have no involvement whatsoever with federal funds. This is not a case where federal funds are going to support abortion or any of the related activities. The net effect of this bill is simply to deny basic health care, including contraception, to millions of women, particularly low-income women. I hope my colleagues will move on, debate the real issues, and oppose this ill-founded and, I believe, unsupported piece of legislation.”

In Maine, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England provides services to more than 10,000 patients each year. More than 90 percent of the services provided are well-women exams such as breast, cervical, and colon cancer screenings; birth control, pregnancy testing and counseling, STD testing and treatment, Pap tests and treatment. More than 60 percent of women accessing services at these Maine clinics view the clinic as their primary care provider, while approximately two-thirds of the clinics’ patients rely on Planned Parenthood for affordable care.

###