FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Audrey Ann Ross
215-985-2619
audrey.ross@accessmatters.org
Statement from AccessMatters’ President & CEO Melissa Weiler Gerber on Confirmation of HHS Secretary Becerra & Immediate Announcement on Forthcoming Title X Rulemaking
[PHILADELPHIA, PA – March 20, 2021]: Earlier this week, following an announcement by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Melissa Weiler Gerber, President & CEO of AccessMatters released the following statement:
“On Thursday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Xavier Becerra as the new United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary. We congratulate him on his confirmation at a time in which true leadership to improve health access is vital.
We were pleased that following Secretary Becerra’s confirmation, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the department will be issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to undo the 2019 Title X rule no later than April 15, 2021. We are grateful Secretary Becerra took immediate action to address the dangerous 2019 rulemaking. While this is an important step in the path to restore the Title X program, there is still further action that can be taken.
Every day that the rule remains in effect, people across the country lose access to critical health care. As the rulemaking process takes its course, we urge HHS to suspend enforcement of Trump’s rule and issue an Interim Final Rule within 30 days that reinstates the regulations that governed the Title X program prior to 2019.”
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AccessMatters’ mission is to protect, expand, and enhance equitable access to sexual and reproductive health care and information for all people. For more information about AccessMatters’ programs, follow @AccessMatters4U on Twitter, and @AccessMatters on Facebook.