Physicians Offer Mixed Prognosis for Obama Budget

Budget Retains Discriminatory Abortion Restrictions, Increases Funding for Some Pregnancy Prevention Programs

New York, NY—President Obama today released a budget that would eliminate funding for many abstinence-only programs, including Community-Based Abstinence Education, the mandatory Title V Abstinence Education program, the Compassion Capital Fund, and Rural Community Facilities. The budget would maintain the Hyde and Weldon amendments, which restrict access to abortion. Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health released the following statement from board chair Suzanne T. Poppema, MD, in response to President Obama’s proposed budget:

“President Obama’s budget offers a mixed prognosis for women’s health. I’m encouraged by the modest funding increase for Title X clinics, which provide basic healthcare and birth control to many women. There are far too many unintended pregnancies in America each year; increased access to contraception will help women delay motherhood until they are financially and emotionally ready.

“The outlook for teens’ health is a mixed one. After two years of rising teen birth rates, we surely need the funding President Obama proposes for teen pregnancy prevention. But I fear this money could be misused for ineffective abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. President Obama and Congress should heed the scientific evidence and offer federal funding only for comprehensive sexuality education programs that reduce teens’ risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

“Sadly, President Obama’s budget also puts low-income women’s health at risk. The budget maintains discriminatory abortion regulations like the Hyde amendment, which prevent thousands of American women from obtaining abortions even if their health is endangered.

“I urge Congress to discontinue harmful policies and programs like the Hyde amendment and abstinence-only sexuality education, and instead focus on proven methods to improve women’s health.”

Doctors with relevant expertise are available to comment.