Without any cameras present, Donald Trump just signed a bill that allows states to withhold federal funds from organisations that provide abortions. Guess Ivanka Trump's meeting with Cecile Richards really didn't do much.
The bill, which passed the Senate with a tie-breaking vote from Mike Pence, reverses previous legislation that prohibited states from withholding federal funding from organizations that provide contraceptive, fertility, pregnancy and cervical care services just because they also provide abortions. Paul Ryan called the signing a "major pro-life victory."
However, pro-choice activists say it's an attack on women's health. "People are sick and tired of politicians making it even harder for them to access health care, and this bill is just the latest example," Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement. "Planned Parenthood strongly opposes President Trump's willingness to undermine millions of women's access to birth control through the Title X family planning program. Four million people depend on the Title X family planning program, and by signing this bill, President Trump disregards their health and well-being."
The Hyde Amendment already prohibits federal funds to pay for abortions, so the bill is at best redundant, and at worse a flagrant attempt to keep federal funds from going to women's health, especially to organizations that typically cater to low-income women. "We are facing the worst political attack on women's health in a generation as lawmakers have spent the past three months trading away women's health and rights at every turn," said Laugens. "That's why women are the core of the resistance and have have been organizing and speaking out since the day after the election. They know speaking up and speaking out can change the direction of this government."
