HR1126 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1126 LRB100 22140 MST 40585 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The health and well-being of women in the State of Illinois is a top priority; the health and education of women is directly linked to improved social well-being for the entire community; and

WHEREAS, The reproductive rights of women and their ability to make their own decisions about how to take care of their own bodies should be protected; access to education and medical services regarding sexual health is one of those rights; and

WHEREAS, The Trump administration will reportedly propose a rule that prohibits Title X funding from going to organizations that perform or support abortions in addition to the other services they provide; and

WHEREAS, Federal funds already cannot be spent directly on abortions because of the 1976 Hyde Amendment, and any federal money that organizations like Planned Parenthood receive is instead used for other women's health services, such as contraception services, STD testing, breast cancer screenings, and other, potentially life-saving services; and

WHEREAS, The Trump administration's new rule would take the Hyde Amendment a step further and prohibit women, especially those from low-income backgrounds, from having access to basic healthcare services; and

WHEREAS, The Trump administration has already attempted to limit access to essential services by requiring Title X grant applicants to support an abstinence-only sex education and natural family planning methods, neither of which are recommended by health experts as effective ways to improve public health nor reduce teen pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, Funding Title X has received bi-partisan support since signed into law to help reduce unplanned pregnancies as well as provide all women, regardless of income level, with basic healthcare services; and

WHEREAS, The Trump Administration's new rule could result in increased levels of teen and unplanned pregnancies since access to contraception services would be cut off to communities that rely upon Title X funding; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that cutting funds to these services could result in the closure of organizations that service urban, suburban, and rural communities, putting the lives of women across the nation in jeopardy; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the three branches of the federal government to continue funding Planned Parenthood and other similar organizations that provide basic healthcare to women, and to keep the Obama Era Title X guidelines; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call on Governor Rauner to stand up to and urge the Trump administration to maintain the original Title X guidelines so that women in Illinois and throughout the country are able to receive essential healthcare services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, and Governor Rauner.