Submitted by Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates.

In the wake of the devastating budget bill that bans Medicaid patients from accessing care at Planned Parenthood health centers, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates joined Gov. Bob Ferguson, U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, several statewide leaders, Washington legislators and other community advocates on Wednesday, July 9, to highlight the harmful impact these cuts will have on the more than 100,000 Washingtonians who rely on Planned Parenthood for essential sexual and reproductive health care.

During the press conference, Ferguson announced Washington’s plan to use state funding to fill the gap left by lost federal dollars from the Planned Parenthood defund provision in the bill if it goes into effect. Though this provision was temporarily enjoined earlier this week, today’s announcement demonstrates the state’s clear commitment to protecting Washingtonians from anti-abortion attacks from the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans.

The harmful budget bill signed by President Trump includes unprecedented attacks on sexual and reproductive health care. These cuts threaten to close health care centers across the country, stripping away access to birth control, cancer screenings, STI treatment and more. This comes on the heels of the state’s largest cut to abortion funding in state history after the Legislature passed a budget cutting 55% from the state’s Abortion Access Project for safety-net abortion providers.

Statement from Jennifer M. Allen (she/hers), CEO, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates:

“Governor Ferguson’s leadership for Planned Parenthood and reproductive health is exactly what this moment demands. While Congress and President Trump took a cruel step towards dismantling the very system people depend on for vital health care services, Washington is fighting back. We are deeply grateful to Governor Ferguson for his fierce advocacy on behalf of patients, providers, and our communities, but no state should be forced to foot the bill for medically necessary services that should lawfully be covered by federal funding, regardless of who provides them.

“With our rights and access under relentless attacks, Washington must continue to lead. Today’s announcement is critical to maintaining access to care to the best of Planned Parenthood’s ability, and also still leaves the abortion safety net with an $8.5 million hole left by the state legislature’s cut to the Abortion Access Project. All of us will need to keep fighting to protect access to care, including restoring funding for abortion providers.”

Statement from Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson:

“This is a blatantly political, cruel attack on reproductive rights—a common theme within the Trump Administration. The real victims are Washingtonians who will lose their health care provider. I will not allow that to happen. While we have a very challenging budget in Washington, and cannot fund every cruel cut in this Big Betrayal Bill, we must step into this temporary gap to ensure women continue to have access to potentially life-saving care.”

Statement from Rebecca Gibron (she/hers), CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaiʻi, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky:

“Our priority has always been, and will always be, the patients who count on us for care. Today’s commitment from Governor Ferguson is an affirmation that Washington will not abandon the people who need us most. These federal budget cuts are already creating fear and uncertainty, but thanks to the state’s leadership, our health centers can continue to show up for patients with the compassion, dignity, and high-quality care they deserve.”

Planned Parenthood health centers across Washington serve over 100,000 patients at 30 health centers each year, nearly half of whom use Medicaid for their care. Today’s announcement sends a strong message that in Washington, every person — regardless of income or where they live — deserves access to the care they need.