U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) today called upon N.J. Governor Chris Christie to reinstate $7.4 million women's health care services that had been eliminated in the state budget.

 Rep. Pascrell's letter to the governor is below.

March 2, 2012

The Honorable Chris Christie
Governor
State of New Jersey
P.O. Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625

Dear Governor Christie:

As you release your proposed state budget for FY 2013, I hope that funding previously eliminated for reproductive health care services will be reinstated. This important funding, $7.4 million of which was eliminated in your budget for FY 2011, provided much needed services for women and men throughout New Jersey. These crucial services included birth control, prevention and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), breast cancer screenings, and pap exams.

In 2009 alone, the funding in question provided preventive health services the services for over 136,000 patients, including over 70,000 breast exams and 65,000 pap tests.  Due to the cuts in the state’s budget, family planning health centers have been forced to close across the state, or otherwise suspend services.  For example, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey had to cease offering pre-natal services at its Paterson center at the end of 2010, limiting access to care.

By withdrawing the state’s application last year to expand its Medicaid program to women looking for family planning opportunities, New Jersey lost an important opportunity to bridge the gap in these services.  The waiver would have potentially provided health screening and contraception services to men and women with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty line, with the federal government matching 90 percent of the associated costs.  Withdrawing the application and vetoing the legislature’s bills to restore funding for family planning and take full advantage of Medicaid coverage only reduces access to important services.

As you noted in your budget address on February 21, 2012, “Because we have made the tough choices in these last two years, we can make the right ones now.”  I would hope that you make the right choice to restore funding for reproductive health care services and family planning.

New Jersey has a long history of supporting women’s health care, and I look forward to working with your office in the future to ensure that these health services are available to the people of our state.

Sincerely,

Bill Pascrell, Jr.

Member of Congress

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