Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., New Jersey’s only member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, harshly criticized the Trump administration after it finalized implementation of a domestic gag rule for organizations receiving Title X funds.

“This latest attack on health care by the Trump administration continues their commitment to limiting the basic health rights of women,” said Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. “Trump’s forcing Planned Parenthood out of the Title X program severely impacts the  over 1.5 million underserved women who rely on Planned Parenthood to inform them of the full range of vital family planning services available. Make no mistake: this was the intended result. Republicans must end their relentless assault on women’s health care.”

Title X is the nation’s only federally funded family planning program. The Trump Gag Rule will directly undermine health care access to the four million vulnerable women, men, and children who rely on Title X-funded health centers for basic preventive health care, including cancer screenings, birth control, sexually transmitted infection screenings, pregnancy testing, and well-woman exams. In keeping with longstanding legal, ethical and medical standards of health care, Title X providers could offer patients medically accurate counseling on and referrals for all pregnancy options-including parenting, adoption, and abortion. However, this gag rule changed the standard, ensuring families will not be fully informed of their health care options and forcing organizations like Planned Parenthood out of the Title X program.

Rep. Pascrell uses his position on the powerful Ways and Means Committee to offer stalwart support for a woman’s right to choose. He regularly advocates for increased funding for family planning and education and supports prevention-focused legislation. He is also a cosponsor of H.R. 2975, the Women’s Health Protection Act, which protects a woman’s ability to determine whether and when to bear a child or end a pregnancy, and to protect a health care provider’s ability to provide reproductive health care services.