Press release from Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE – Ahead of the anticipated U.S. House of Representatives vote on the American Health Care Act today, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI) is lifting up sentiments expressed by members of the faith community during this defining moment for women’s health.
PPWI joins with these faith leaders in calling on Speaker Paul Ryan and members of the House to hear the voices of those they represent who rely on and overwhelming support the high quality, essential health care provided by Planned Parenthood. Continuing to meet the essential health needs to ensure all our community members are safe, healthy and strong is something we should all believe in.
The following is a statement from the leaders of Congregation Shir Hadash, Plymouth Church and Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church:
“We, as faith leaders, are concerned about the dangerous path our Congressional leaders and the President are taking to reduce women’s access to essential preventive and diagnostic health care at Planned Parenthood and the negative consequences it will have on our communities. We believe our faith guides us to love thy neighbor, take care of our brothers and sisters, and help those in need.
“We would like to send a message to Speaker Ryan that our faith communities are deeply concerned about the impact of choices, soon to be made by Speaker Ryan and his colleagues in Congress, on vulnerable women, men, and families within their communities. We’d like him know that Wisconsin congregations are moved to pray for him to gain critical insight from those who will be impacted by his decisions during this Congressional session.
“We stand today to show our support for love and kindness. We pray that our leaders will take notice. Legislation that attempts to take health care away from thousands of our neighbors, like proposals to end funding for Medicaid patients at Planned Parenthood, is harmful to all our communities.
“We pray for Speaker Paul Ryan to give him the strength to do what is right and just, to stand up for truth and all the people of Wisconsin. We pray for Speaker Ryan that he may consider the real people and lives behind the policies and remember that without access to federal programs such as Medicaid at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, which is the state’s largest reproductive health safety net provider, many of his brothers and sisters will inevitably suffer in very immediate and devastating ways. We pray that the choices ahead of Speaker Ryan, Congress, and President Trump be made with clear and honest hearts and minds, understanding their role in far-reaching changes to healthcare that would either save lives and strengthen families or would punish those in need simply for having less.”
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Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin is a nonprofit health care provider caring for 60,000 patients annually at 21 health centers. 97 percent of Planned Parenthood’s care is preventive health services including well woman exams, breast and cervical cancer screenings, birth control, HIV screening, and STD treatment.
