I commend Senators Blumenthal and Murphy for defending Planned Parenthood against the recent defunding effort. Despite the grossly inaccurate rhetoric being put forth by other senators, Republican presidential candidates, and anti-abortion extremists, sanity reigned in the Senate, and the vote to terminate funding failed.

Here are the facts: Federal law already withholds funding for abortion, except in the dire circumstances of rape, incest, or when the life of the woman is in jeopardy. GOP defund efforts almost exclusively target preventive services, comprising more than 90 percent of the care Planned Parenthood provides, like breast and cervical cancer screenings, family planning services, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screenings and treatment including HIV tests, and well-woman visits for millions of Americans.

One in five women has relied on Planned Parenthood for care. If funding is terminated, where would the 64,000 people right here in Connecticut turn to for safe and effective birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings, and other preventive health care?

I stand with Planned Parenthood. I am grateful and proud of our senators, who not only voted against defunding, but took to the Senate floor, and publicly supported Planned Parenthood. Aug. 3 was a great day for protecting women’s access to reproductive health care.

Sue Hessel

Lyme

Editor’s note: Ms. Hessel is on the state board of Planned Parenthood.