Pallone, Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Say New Republican Law Will Hurt Patients and Providers in New Jersey

PERTH AMBOY, NJ – At the Planned Parenthood health center in Perth Amboy today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) joined Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), and New Jersey health providers to condemn the devastating impact of a new federal law signed by President Donald Trump that strips reproductive health access from millions of Americans. Despite these attacks on New Jerseyans’ rights and freedoms, Planned Parenthood health centers are still standing in New Jersey – and are as committed as ever to providing high-quality care to all patients.

Planned Parenthood health centers across the country provide essential care to over two million patients annually, including STI testing, cancer screenings, and birth control services – more than half of which are delivered to patients on Medicaid or through Title X. Nearly two-thirds of health centers are located in rural or medically underserved areas, and most patients are low-income.

The law, which Congressional Republicans pushed through and President Trump signed last month, “defunds” Planned Parenthood by barring Medicaid patients from using their insurance to cover essential services and preventive care such as birth control, STI testing and treatment, and cancer screenings, at Planned Parenthood health centers. The “defund” provision is currently blocked by a preliminary injunction that allows patients to use their Medicaid insurance at Planned Parenthood health centers while the case continues in court. Still, the law has forced health centers across the country to consider layoffs, reduced hours, and even closure. Three New Jersey Republicans—Tom Kean, Jr., Chris Smith, and Jeff Van Drew —all voted to “defund” Planned Parenthood with their support for Trump’s Big Ugly Bill. 

“As Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I fought this bill every step of the way because I knew what it would mean for New Jersey. It reduces access to affordable care at Planned Parenthood for tens of thousands of patients in our state. It blocks people from getting birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing just because of where they go for care. We must reverse these cuts and protect access to reproductive health care,” said Pallone.

“Through their Big, Bad Betrayal, President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ worked overtime to ‘defund’ Planned Parenthood and prevent people from being able to get the care they need from the provider they trust,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “We’ll keep fighting relentlessly for people’s ability to get essential sexual and reproductive health care — no matter who they are, how much they make, and what insurance they have.”     

“Access to affordable, high-quality reproductive health care is a fundamental right that should never be put at risk. That’s why I fought hard against this harmful bill because it cuts off abortion access and limits vital services like birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing for thousands of New Jersey families who depend on Planned Parenthood for their care,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. “These services are essential for people to make informed decisions about their health and their futures. I’m standing with Planned Parenthood and health care providers, and I’ll fight every day to restore these critical services for all New Jersey families.”

“My patients deserve the high-quality, affordable care they rely on from Planned Parenthood,” said Dr. Elizabeth Talmont, a provider with Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey. “A person’s income, zip code, or insurance coverage should not determine their ability to access the care they need.”

“Today and every day, Planned Parenthood health centers across New Jersey are open and seeing patients,” said Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, executive director of Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. “We will never stop fighting for patients’ rights to get the care they need, so they can plan their families and their futures.”

In calendar year 2024, New Jersey’s two Planned Parenthood affiliates – Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey and Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey, which operates the Perth Amboy health center – served patients at more than 123,000 visits at 23 health centers across the state. These visits included more than 140,000 cycles of birth control, 170,000 STI & HIV tests and treatments, and 13,000 cancer screenings. More than one-third of all patients used Medicaid to cover the costs of their care.

Pallone, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, helped lead opposition to the legislation in the House.

Defunding Planned Parenthood has had devastating consequences in states that tried it: 

• Texas saw tens of thousands lose access to care, a rise in unintended pregnancies, and a spike in cervical cancer among Latinas;
• Iowa experienced an 86% drop in services and surging STI rates;
• Indiana’s clinic closures led to an HIV outbreak; and
• States including Kansas, Tennessee, and Wisconsin saw widespread health center closures and plummeting access to health care.
• These harmful policies are deeply unpopular, with more than 80% of Americans supporting continued funding for Planned Parenthood health centers.

A full video of the event is available here: https://www.facebook.com/RepFrankPallone/