OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senator Vin Gopal issued the following statement in response to the new rule proposed by the Trump administration stripping millions of dollars in Title X funding from family planning clinics:

“According to the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, in 2017, New Jersey received  $8.5 million in federal Title X funding to support 45 service sites across New Jersey. With this funding, New Jersey’s Title X providers served 99,844 people.  Planned Parenthood affiliates in New Jersey operate 22 health centers which see more than 70 percent of all Title X patients in the state.

“It is unacceptable that this administration continues to work to restrict women’s access to affordable health care. This new rule is a blatant attack on the personal relationship between a woman and her physician, and will do great harm to the health of our residents.

“Title X funding, which the Trump administration plans to restrict, provides patients with life-saving screenings for cervical and breast cancer, contraception services, STI testing, pelvic exams, infertility services, and other important services. This move is a clear attempt to defund Planned Parenthood and similar clinics that provide essential family planning services to women and families throughout our state.

“I stand with Planned Parenthood. Our state needs to do all we can to stand behind Planned Parenthood and protect women’s healthcare.”