“Even though the Republicans want to take women back to the Dark Ages, we will not go,” Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) said. “We will fight them with every legislative tool at our disposal. Make no mistake: This entire process has not been about reducing the debt or the deficit – it’s been about reducing opportunity. The major constituencies that bear this burden are the women and children”

“I am proud to stand here with my Democratic women colleagues to send the message that we are not going to allow women to be thrown under the bus in this – or any other – budget debate,” said Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). “As a woman and a mother, I am angry that women’s health care is even up for debate right now. I truly hope that once we win these votes and put the issues behind us, Republicans stop playing ideological political games, and work with us in good faith on the serious issues facing our country.”

“This is simply an opportunity for the right wing to turn back the clock and really sock it to American women,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). “To be clear, to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood is to stop providing critical health care to millions of American women, the majority of whom are poor and cannot afford the range of preventative health services provided in California and around the country.”

“While claiming to be focused solely on deficit reduction, Republicans have been pushing an extreme ideological agenda that threatens the health and lives of American women,” said Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), We will continue to stand up for the millions of women and families who rely on these preventive and life-saving health care services.”

“While our budget hangs in the balance, Republicans have chosen to wage a war on women’s health, and we are the last line of defense,” said Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA). “We should not be diverted by an extremist social agenda not supported by the majority of Americans. Let’s get back to putting Americans back to work, creating new jobs, and moving our economy forward.”

“Votes on unrelated political issues are a distraction from the real debate over the budget, which itself is a distraction from what we should be talking about–creating jobs,” said Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). “It’s very troubling that a vote to cut cancer screenings and routine care for women was what the Republicans demanded in exchange for not shutting down the government.”

“Just days after a bipartisan budget agreement, I am frustrated that the Senate will spend valuable time on a partisan measure that threatens to take away vital health services for millions of vulnerable American women,” Senator Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) said. “Last year, North Carolina Planned Parenthood facilities performed more than 11,000 breast and cervical cancer screenings and 18,000 STD tests for women who could not otherwise afford these services. I hope my colleagues will stop playing political Russian Roulette with women’s health services and instead focus on a bipartisan, comprehensive plan to reduce our long-term debt.”

“In some parts of New Hampshire, Planned Parenthood is the only provider of preventive health care services to low-income women,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). “It’s going to be far worse for patients and more expensive for the government if we eliminate this funding.”

“The election last November was not a mandate for any one political party or ideology,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). “It was a mandate for action – for solutions that will create jobs and get our country going again.  But what are the House Republicans focused on? Not creating jobs. Not growing our economy – but an assault on the rights of women, and health services for millions of American families. These votes to defund Planned Parenthood and repeal health care reform show a disregard for women. If Republicans continue their anti-woman agenda, they will continue to find a fight in the Senate.”

Sen. John Ensign: “We Just Have To Look At What We Can Do, What Is Achievable.” According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “Ensign said that while he opposes abortion, Republicans ‘have to face reality. The Democrats are in control of the Senate, in the White House. The Democrats will never allow to defund Planned Parenthood while they are in charge.’ ‘We just have to look at what we can do, what is achievable,’ Ensign said, ‘and right now I think one of the biggest moral issues that we face in this country is the debt.’” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 4/8/11]

Sen. Pat Toomey: “There Are Other Bigger Battles We Can Be Fighting.” According to The Hill, “Republicans should ‘move on’ from insisting on defunding Planned Parenthood in a 2011 spending bill, a Republican senator said Friday. With less than 24 hours to go until a shutdown, Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) suggested that a rider to defund Planned Parenthood, a key sticking point in reaching an agreement, was expendable. ‘[We] just need to recognize,’ Toomey said on MSNBC. ‘We should aggressively go for everything we can get and move on’ … He said Republicans should be prepared to ‘move on, because there are other bigger battles we can be fighting.’” [The Hill, 4/8/11]

Sen. Johnny Isaakson: “If We Have Some Differences On Policy, Reserve Those On The Debate For The 2012 Budget Appropriations Act And Let’s Get Moving.” “It is time that we got the current agreement and I understand there is one on how much we cut done. If we have some differences on policy, reserve those on the debate for the 2012 budget appropriations act and let’s get moving everybody here — get moving.” [Congressional Record. 4/8/11]

Sen. Ron Johnson: “Get Past This Year’s Budget.” According to Roll Call’s David Drucker, “Tea Party fav Sen Ron Johnson (R-WI):’We need 2 get past this year’s budget & move’ 2 Rep Ryan’s fiscal ’12 budget plan.” [Roll Call, via Twitter, 4/8/11]

Sen. Mark Kirk: “Republicans Should Give On … The Extraneous Policy Riders So That Government Does Not Shut Down.” According to the Chicago Sun-Times, “With a shutdown looming, Illinois Republicans Sen. Mark Kirk and Rep. Mark Dold are on a conference call now–it started after 5 p.m. est–and each said Planned Parenthood should not be 100 percent defunded; Said Kirk, ‘Democrats should give on spending proposals because we need more discipline and Republicans should give on the the extraneous policy riders so that government does not shut down,’ a reference to the House GOP move to defund Planned Parenthood’s women health services. A shut down could still be averted, Kirk said. ‘There is precious little distance between the President and the Speaker over spending,’ Kirk said.” [Chicago Sun-Times, 4/8/11]

Senator Susan Collins Supported Title X, Against House GOP Cuts To Program. Collins spokesman Kevin Kelley said, “Sen. Collins is a longtime supporter of the Title X family planning program, and she believes the House’s decision to completely eliminate the funding is unwise, The program has successfully reduced the number of unplanned pregnancies, therefore helping to reduce health care costs. Planned Parenthood receives Title X funding, which is defunded in the Republican spending bill. Planned Parenthood defunding was the subject of a separate amendment to the spending bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.).” [Politico, 3/11/11]

Senator Olympia Snowe Called It A “Step Too Far” To Defund Planned Parenthood. Snowe said, “While confronting our serious economic challenges and fiscal realities will require difficult decisions to reach more sustainable levels of government spending, the outright elimination of funding for Planned Parenthood and Title X is a step too far and would have a significant impact on access to the preventive services and screenings that have benefited millions of women nationwide.” [The Hill, 3/27/11]

Senator Mark Kirk Has Always Supported Planned Parenthood. According to theThe Hill newspaper Senator Mark Kirk “has always supported Planned Parenthood and family planning efforts,” when looking at which Senators would not support the Pence Amendment. [The Hill, 3/27/11]

Seven House Republicans Voted Against Pence Amendment. Representatives Charlie Bass, N.H., Judy Biggert, Ill., Mary Bono-Mack, Calif., Charlie Dent, Pa., Robert Dold, Ill., Richard Hanna, N.Y., Rodney Frelinghuysen, N.J. voted against the Pence Amendment to H.R. 1 to defend Planned Parenthood. [Vote 93, 2/18/11]

·         Congressman Bass Said Title X Protects Health Of Woman, Against GOP Cuts. “Bass recently went against the majority of his party with a vote to preserve funding for Title 10 programs, which include Planned Parenthood. Bass was one of seven House Republicans to vote that way, but was on the losing side. ‘Title 10 does a lot of important functions to protect the health of young women in our society and I didn’t think it was appropriate to cut that fund to zero,’ Bass said.” [Keene Sentinel, 2/26/11]

·         Congressman Richard Hanna Called Cuts “Draconian,” Hopes Will be Restored. “You really have to hope that at the end of the day that this was part of the process, and that most of the draconian cuts will be restored as part of a compromise,” Hanna said. ‘I like National Public Radio. I don’t want to cut public television. I didn’t want to cut health care provided through Planned Parenthood.’” [The Post Standard, 2/20/2011]

·         Congressman Dold Called Defunding Planned Parenthood “Shortsighted.” “Dold went so far as to publicly voice his opposition to the Pence amendment on the House floor during last month’s debate, becoming the only one of the Republican dissidents to do so. He said blocking funding for Planned Parenthood would be ‘shortsighted and would negatively impact the lives of women who depend on these health care services.’” [Roll Call, 3/2/11]

·         Congresswoman Bono Mack Said Cutting Funding For Planned Parenthood Is A Big Mistake. Bono Mack said, “The Pence Amendment cuts off federal funding to Planned Parenthood for all services-not just abortions. I believe that is a big mistake and represents a threat to the health of tens of thousands of American women. Breast cancer screenings, pelvic exams, HPV tests and scores of other vitally important health care services-services that save lives-would be unfairly impacted.” [The Daily Best, 3/12/11]