Governor Murphy Signs Bill Providing Emergency Reproductive Health Care Funding

Legislation protects patients’ access to care after changes to federal Title X family planning program

TRENTON, NJ – Today, Governor Murphy stood up for patients and providers in New Jersey by signing S4103/A5802 into law. This bill will provide $9.5 million in emergency state funding to providers like Planned Parenthood who were forced out of federal Title X family planning program due to the medically unethical gag rule. Now, reproductive health care providers in New Jersey can continue to provide high-quality care in line with their values and medical ethics.

“On behalf of Planned Parenthood’s patients across the state, we thank Governor Murphy and the state legislature for protecting access to care,” said Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, Vice President of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. “With this bill signing, our providers will continue to provide the lifesaving reproductive health care services that patients need and deserve.”

Planned Parenthood was forced out of participating in Title X, the nation’s only federal program for affordable birth control and family planning services, due to the Trump-Pence administration’s medically unethical gag rule, which prevents health care providers from giving their patients full information about their reproductive health options. The medically unethical gag rule is specifically intended to deny people care at Planned Parenthood health centers. In New Jersey, Planned Parenthood provides care to 70 percent of Title X patients in the state.

This bill is more important than ever. In December, anti-reproductive health leaders in Congress upheld the cruel and unethical gag rule in the year-end appropriations package. These Trump administration policies put access to health care at risk for millions across the country – especially for those who already struggle to access quality health care. While Governor Murphy’s bill signing protects patients in New Jersey, a person’s access to care should not depend on which state they live in.

“New Jersey is a national leader for reproductive rights; we must not back down now,” said Wojtowicz. “We will continue to work with the Governor and the legislature to keep affordable, high-quality reproductive health care services available to patients in New Jersey.”

###

Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey (PPAFNJ) is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) non-profit social welfare organization, and the advocacy arm of the Planned Parenthood Affiliates in New Jersey. We advocate for access to essential health care through education, activism, voter engagement, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy. For more information, visit www.ppactionnj.org.