Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is pleased with the breast cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, reversing its controversial decision to stop giving Planned Parenthood grants for breast cancer screenings.
“While this has been a sad week for everyone that cares about women’s health, I am glad that Susan G. Komen for the Cure has come to the right decision,” Ms. Gillibrand said today.
Komen initially announced it would stop supporting breast health programs at Planned Parenthood this week because Republican Congressman Cliff Stearns was investigating Planned Parenthood to see if it uses federal money to fund abortions. Komen’s decision led to days of intense backlash from politicians and voters who saw Mr. Stearns’ investigation as politically motivated and felt the charity was bowing to pressure from the right wing.
Earlier today, Senator Gillibrand, sent a letter to supporters where she said she was calling on Komen to reverse their decision. Ms. Gillibrand also said she made a donation to Planned Parenthood and urged supporters to do the same.
“The radical right has been relentless in their efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, which provides essential health care services to low-income women in need, including life-saving breast cancer screenings. When these extremists don’t succeed in getting laws changed in Congress, they resort to pressuring nonprofits such as Susan G. Komen for the Cure to stop funding Planned Parenthood,” Senator Gillibrand wrote.
Though she is clearly happy with the Komen reversal, Ms. Gillibrand said the fight for women’s healthcare is far from over.
“We must continue to stand strong against the attempts to roll back access to essential health care services for low-income women that are sure to continue,” she said.
