A new House of Representatives bill is a backwards step for civil liberties

My experience with Planned Parenthood began in the seventh grade when two representatives came into my science classroom, stood between the wooden desks, and talked frankly about sex. The conversation lacked hushed euphemisms; the speakers openly and honestly stressed the importance of knowledge, taught abstinence and showed the pathways to safe sex. The dawning of my adolescence was supplemented with the knowledge and the awareness of safe sexuality and of a free health clinic.On Feb. 18, 2011, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to ban Planned Parenthood health centers from receiving all federal funding for birth control, cancer screenings, HIV testing, free to low-cost abortions, etc.??? (never ever ever use etc. what else??) The bill was authored by Republican Representative Mike Pence, who cited the main reason behind cutting Planned Parenthood's funding was his opposition to the abortion services offered there.This is an entirely selfish proposition; his solo opinion of the morality of abortion is outweighed by the vastness of services Planned Parenthood offers.“I believe that ending an innocent human life is morally wrong. I also believe it is morally wrong to take the taxpayer dollars of millions of pro-life Americans and use them to fund organizations that provide and promote abortions, like Planned Parenthood of America,” Pence said. (did you speak with him? if not, where'd you get this quote?)Federal money provided to Planned Parenthood for abortion services isn't any different than Medicare funding that flows to hospitals that also provide abortions. Will hospital funding cuts be next?Abortions account for a meager three percent of services provided at Planned Parenthood. The other 97 percent includes the other vast majority of Planned Parenthood services — including STD testing, cancer screening and prevention, and contraceptives — which will soon be decimated.The bill would also reimpose the global “gag” rule, which forbids the giving of federal money to any group that even talks about abortions. This rule, which placed heavy restrictions on family planning groups working globally to prevent infant deaths, was already lifted by President Obama in 2009.We live in a nation where abortions are legal. So, how can a government official withhold federal funding for a right that has been upheld by the Supreme Court? This convolution is detrimental to our civil liberties.The Roe vs. Wade case that made abortion legal, and therefore safe, is continually challenged and continually upheld in our courts. The Pence Amendment to the House of Representatives is an attempt to take away women’s rights by making it as difficult as possible to exercise them.Trends over the past 20 years have shown that the sex education and outreach by organizations such as Planned Parenthood have resulted in fewer abortions. If we remove funding from the very organizations that are educating us, its possible we will see those numbers rise again. Ironic, right?As Planned Parenthood teaches, abstinence is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy. However, many teenagers do chose to have sex, and without access to free contraceptives, education and, when necessary, abortions, we will see a return of unwanted pregnancies and dangerous procedures to end them.The fight to battle the bill is not over yet — it must be passed by the Senate. So now is the time to stand up for Planned Parenthood, to fight for the health care that has been influential in so many lives. Planned Parenthood serves one in five American women at some point in their lifetime. It is important that this bill be halted; it can only be by the action of our senators, President Obama and us.