The Quickie: Fret Not, Gentle Readers, This Author is a Lady of Her Word

Welcome to “The Quickie” — Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s daily tipsheet on the top health care & reproductive rights stories of the day. You can read “The Quickie'' online here.

In today’s Quickie: Update from Lady Budgeton, PPAF blasts House NDAA, and the 30th anniversary of ICPD.

Fear not, dear gentle readers, for I am a lady of my word. 

Last week, within the chamber of the House, anti-abortion members of the Grand Old Party wielded the foreign aid funding bill, homeland security bill, financial services bill, and defense bill as weapons in their continued war against bodily autonomy. 

With the stroke of their political pens, they forced through measures to tighten the purse strings on essential global reproductive health programs and reimpose the dreadful global gag rule, in their effort to relive their glorious heyday of the previous administration — because nothing makes them happier than restricting access to health care in other countries. 

Except, of course, restricting access to health care here at home. Thus, they pushed forward dangerous attacks on abortion and gender-affirming care for individuals in our armed forces, those in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and federal employees. Their actions would also impose draconian limitations upon residents of the District of Columbia, blocking a local law to protect them from discrimination based on their personal reproductive health care decisions and impeding access to abortion for those enrolled in the DC Medicaid program. 

Such maneuvers — draped in the guise of **American Values** — lay bare these members’ disregard for the rights and well-being of not just countless individuals worldwide, but also the very people they are sworn to represent.

It is a puzzling phenomenon indeed: the persistent refusal to glean wisdom from one's own missteps. They appear to be trapped in an endless waltz, twirling in circles of their own making. 

This author, however, must raise her glass to the champions of sexual and reproductive rights on the esteemed Appropriations Committee who continue to rise to the occasion with amendments, forceful words, and unwavering determination to protect the bodily autonomy of their constituents and communities around the world. 

But fret not, dearest gentle readers, while enlightenment might be an elusive spector beyond reach for the Grand Old Party, this author knows the choreography and will never tire of staying one step ahead.

Until next time,

Lady Budgeton

PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND BLASTS HOUSE FOR NDAA THAT ATTACKS ABORTION AND GENDER-AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE: Last Friday, by a slim majority, the U.S. House of Representatives pushed through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with harmful provisions attacking access to essential health care for service members and their families, including abortion and gender-affirming care.

These attacks were once again added as amendments that House Republicans brought to the floor despite bipartisan support for the bill without these dangerous provisions in committee. 

Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF) issued the following statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president of PPAF,  in response to the passage of the bill:

“It’s like Groundhog Day. Anti-abortion rights House members use must-pass bills as a vehicle to force through their deeply unpopular and dangerous agenda — again and again and again. Everyone deserves access to abortion and gender-affirming care, including service members and their families. But these lawmakers would rather play games with our fundamental rights in their attempt to control our bodies, lives, and futures.”

Read more here.

CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT: Last week, the Biden administration and Congress celebrated the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD+30), a transformative moment when the global community came together to recognize that reproductive rights are human rights and are essential to sustainable development. Lori Adelman, executive director of Planned Parenthood Global, joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and White House Gender Policy Council Director Jennifer Klein, alongside speakers from the State Department, USAID, UNFPA, and more to recommit to the landmark consensus on sexual and reproductive health and rights achieved through the ICPD.

In Congress, Representatives Barbara Lee, Lois Frankel, and Grace Meng with Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Tammy Duckworth introduced a resolution to reaffirm the goals of ICPD and the U.S.’s commitment to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights.