VENICE FAMILY CLINIC STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S EXECUTIVE ACTIONS TO END ANTI-ABORTION FUNDING RESTRICTIONS ON WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE

LOS ANGELES – (Jan. 28, 2021) – Following is a statement from Karen Lamp, M.D., associate medical director and director of the Briskin Women’s Health program at Venice Family Clinic, on President Joseph Biden’s executive orders issued today that ended anti-abortion restrictions on federal funds for women’s health care.

“We applaud President Biden for acting quickly to protect women’s health by ending these unconscionable and unethical regulations put in place by the previous administration. The president’s executive orders will put an end to the global and domestic ‘gag rules’ that placed women’s health at risk in the U.S. and around the globe by denying certain federal funds to health care organizations that provided information about abortion.

“With the stroke of a pen, the president is ensuring women – including some 4 million low-income women in the U.S. who receive care from the Title X program – can continue to receive important health care services, including birth control, wellness checks, breast and cervical cancer screening, and HIV and sexually transmitted disease tests.

“His executive orders have eliminated regulations that required health care providers, like Venice Family Clinic, to choose between giving up Title X funds that are needed for these services – or operating unethically by allowing the government to dictate what can and cannot be said to patients. Now our Clinic and health care providers across the country can continue to receive Title X funds and provide the information and care our patients need.”

About Venice Family Clinic

Venice Family Clinic is a leader in providing comprehensive, high-quality primary health care to people in need. Over the past 50 years, the Clinic has grown from a small storefront operation into one of Los Angeles’ leading community health centers, providing care to 27,000 people annually through 14 sites in Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, Inglewood and Culver City. The Clinic leads the way in providing comprehensive and integrated care by creating a one-stop health system that offers multiple services, often at the same locations and same time as primary care appointments. These services include dental care, substance use treatment, mental health services, vision services, child development services, health education, prescription medications, domestic violence counseling, HIV services, street medicine for people experiencing homelessness and health insurance enrollment. For more information, visit VeniceFamilyClinic.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.