Today, members of the House Energy and Commerce committee voted to advance legislation that would “defund” Planned Parenthood, raise health care costs, and take away Medicaid health insurance from more than 13 million people — all to give billionaires a giant tax cut. Analysis from the Congressional Budget Office released yesterday determined that the provision to “defund” Planned Parenthood would increase the deficit by $300 million. This is the only provision in the health care portion of the bill that would increase the deficit. In response, Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, released the following statement:

“Despite protest, polling, and public outcry, Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce committee voted to advance a harmful provision in the reconciliation bill that would ‘defund’ Planned Parenthood. Lawmakers are making it plain: This provision is about punishing Planned Parenthood health centers for providing abortion care, and threatening access to affordable birth control, wellness checkups, and cancer screenings for millions of people across the country in the process. It is indefensible how far abortion opponents, who claim to care about women and families, are willing to go to shut down health centers and line the pockets of billionaires and big corporations.

“We’re grateful to many champions for reproductive freedom on the committee who spoke in strong defense of Planned Parenthood health centers and supported an amendment to remove this ‘defund’ provision. The fight is far from over. As the bill makes its way to the House floor for a full vote, Planned Parenthood Action Fund advocates and supporters will be there every step of the way, reminding members of Congress what’s at stake and the irreplaceable role Planned Parenthood’s nearly 600 health centers play in communities across the country.”

Action Fund supporters wearing “I Fight for Planned Parenthood” shirts were a steady presence in the room, even staying overnight during the 27-hour hearing. So far, Planned Parenthood supporters have also sent over 200,000 messages to Congress in support of Planned Parenthood. As the “defund” provision came up for a vote, Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6), Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-7), and many others offered a vigorous defense of Planned Parenthood and shared stories of constituents who rely on these health centers for care. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) also joined Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson for a press conference highlighting the harms of defunding health centers.

See more from Planned Parenthood Action Fund below:

• BREAKING: Congressional Budget Office Estimates that ‘Defunding’ Planned Parenthood will Cost Taxpayers $300


• ICYMI: As “GOP Unveils Sweeping, Brutal Medicaid Cuts,” New Guttmacher Research Makes it Clear There is No Replacement for Planned Parenthood Health Centers


• Republicans Revolt Heading Into Energy and Commerce Committee Markup


• WHAT WE’RE READING: GOP House Efforts to “Defund” Planned Parenthood Face Growing Public Outcry