The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Feb. 18 to eliminate all federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

The decision, if approved by the Senate, would affect many uninsured people throughout the nation, especially in California.

It’s hard to swallow a decision that would affect many people for the worse.

Planned Parenthood is a well-known reproductive health care provider that provides various forms of assistance to people with no health insurance. Planned Parenthood is mainly focused on preventative services to keep women, men and teens healthy.

It’s apparent that this is a victory for anti-abortion forces. Many conservatives feel that the taxes they pay should not go to an organization that provides abortions.  It was recorded that more than 324,000 abortions were performed at Planned Parenthood clinics this year. For a great deal of time, abortion rights has been a controversial topic for many groups.

However, Planned Parenthood does not only provide abortions. It also provides physical examinations, family planning, contraceptives, prenatal care and other products and services. Low-income families rely on organizations such as Planned Parenthood for  health and well-being.  Planned Parenthood has been around for many years, and now many Americans may have to find an alternative to the affordable health care it provides.

“It’s not fair. It’s like they are taking away from the poor. . . . I don’t have the luxury of my own private doctor. I go to Planned Parenthood for check-ups,” Skyline student Lalaine Davis said.

So, why now? Why did the U.S. House of Representative suddenly decide to eliminate all federal funding to Planned Parenthood?

According to Fox News, there were videos that documented a sting operation. The videos were similar to the ones that brought down the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, one of the largest community organizations that advocated for the neighborhood safety of low- and moderate-income families living in rural areas. The videos revealed a Planned Parenthood manager giving advice to two actors posing as a pimp and a prostitute about how to get services for underage sex workers. Since then, the House has decided to ban federal funding for the organization.

In no way should any Planned Parenthood employee show any support for human trafficking. However, it’s extreme to say that Planned Parenthood as an organization is aiding and supporting human trafficking and that consequently it should not be funded by the government.

This decision, if passed by the Senate, would ultimately affect many students in the college community because many students are without adequate health insurance. Most campus-based free clinics do not provide extensive care the way Planned Parenthood does.

It’s a decision that is closer to home than most people think. We can only wonder what’s next.

Want to make a difference? Please sign a letter to send to the representatives who voted against Planned Parenthood and to the senators who have a chance to stop it. Go to www.ppaction.org/IStandWithPP