Planned Parenthood provides more than just abortion services; abortions only account for 3 percent of the services it provides. Eighty percent of its patients receive services to prevent unwanted pregnancy, and it prevents 579,000 unwanted pregnancies per year. If Senate File 2 passes in Iowa Legislature, the state will lose millions of taxpayer dollars to destroy an organization that exists solely to help families. People believe saving the lives of 3 percent of the unwanted pregnancies is worth our taxpayer money that could be invested in other things that could greatly affect the lives of children already born.

If people are passionate about the lives of children, and everyone’s right to life, I encourage them to advocate to help the children who experience child abuse and neglect. It is important that we advocate for the children who are already here, who are starving and in pain. The money we will lose if we eliminate Planned Parenthood could be used to help the children who are already born and who desperately need our help.

—Markie Channon

UI School of Social Work