Shimkus Calling for End of Federal Funding for Planned Parenthood

(CONGRESSMAN JOHN SHIMKUS MEETS IN FRONT OF THE EFFINGHAM PLANNED PARENTHOOD OFFICE TUESDAY WITH OPPONENTS OF THE ORGANIZATION)

Local Congressman John Shimkus was in Effingham Tuesday calling for an end to Federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

During his remarks, Shimkus noted that Federally Qualified Health Centers provide the same services as does Planned Parenthood. Charts made available during Shimkus' visit outside the Effingham Planned Parenthood office indicated that there are more than 40 Federally Qualified Health Centers, as opposed to 18 Planned Parenthood locations in Illinois, only 10 of those not in Chicago. It was also indicated that the Federally Qualified Health Centers offer the same services as Planned Parenthood.

The press conferences by Shimkus in Effingham as well as Champaign and Belleville come in the wake of video footage showing a Planned Parenthood employee discussing the sale of body parts from aborted fetuses. Shimkus shared what efforts are underway in Congress to end taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood.

For their part, Planned Parenthood released a statement indicating their services are unique including counseling, supplies of methods of birth control, and in some locations certain procedures.

The list presented at Shimkus' presentation indicated that all Federally Qualified Health Centers have a nurse on staff.