Senators call on Komen to 'reconsider its decision' to defund Planned Parenthood

On Thursday, 26 senators urged Nancy Brinker, the founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, to reverse course regarding Planned Parenthood.

"We write to express our disappointment with Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s decision to cut funding for breast cancer prevention, screening, and education at Planned Parenthood health centers," they wrote in letter (PDF). "This troubling decision threatens to reduce access to necessary, life-saving services. We urge Komen to reconsider its decision."

The media reported this week that Komen was halting their partnership with Planned Parenthood because of recently adopted criteria prohibiting grants to organizations under local, state, or federal investigation. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) has called for an investigation of Planned Parenthood to ensure that no public funds have been spent to carry out abortions.

"It would be tragic if any woman -- let alone thousands of women -- lost access to these potentially life-saving screenings because of a politically motivated attack," the senators said.

"We earnestly hope that you will put women’s health before partisan politics and reconsider this decision for the sake of the women who depend on both your organizations for access to the health care they need."

The letter was signed by Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Begich (D-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jon Tester (D-MT), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Max Baucus (D-MT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Al Franken (D-MN), John Kerry (D-MA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM).

Brinker has denied bowing to pressure from anti-abortion lawmakers who have demonized Planned Parenthood and said the overall response has been "very, very favorable."