I've been utilizing Planned Parenthood for my reproductive health care needs for eight years. It is vital to communities nationwide and our government is threatening to cut off funding for this crucial organization. We need a spending bill passed by October 1, and some in Congress are refusing to pass a spending bill without the removal of funding for Planned Parenthood. There isn't enough support for a filibuster and President Obama would certainly veto any spending bill that has Planned Parenthood's cutoff included. This is a waste of time and Congress needs to do the bare minimum of its basic functions: pass a spending bill!

Let's teach GOP haters a lesson and give Planned Parenthood supporters a tangible way to fight back against the Right Wing War on Women.

I have personally benefited from Planned Parenthood when I was uninsured and had no where else to turn.

For more than 200 years, our country has been led by male presidents. Of the 19 remaining candidates in the 2016 presidential race, 16 are men. Women fill only 20% of Congressional seats, and make up only 6 out of 50 state governors. The U.S. falls in 54th place on the World Economic Forum's gender equality ranking in the area of political leadership. Being a social justice champion requires working to make our democracy truly representative. As the progressive presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders should take a stand for gender equality and propose policies to address the lack of female representation in politics.

Violence against women and women's health clinics occurs every day. Too often, it is treated like an isolated incident by the mainstream media. This needs to stop. This arson, which is being investigated by a federal terrorism task force, needs to be called out for what it is by the media as part of an orchestrated campaign of violence against women's health clinics that is committed again and again by domestic terrorists.

All women have a right to high quality health care.

I just can't believe that our Republican leaders are threatening to shut down the entire federal government over this issue. As a retired teacher who worked not only with children but, through Title I, also with their parents, I can honestly tell you that this program is essential. Because of Planned Parenthood, our mothers are much healthier thanks to preventive care, cancer screenings and contraception. Please, do not let Planned Parenthood come to an end. It is just too important!

I know many women who have been helped by Planned Parenthood. I believe if it weren't for Planned Parenthood many women would not seek the medical attention they need because they simply couldn't afford it.

Planned Parenthood helped me secure birth control in 1970 when I was a college student. When I could no longer afford health insurance in 2009 as a result of the 2008 stock-market crash and Great Recession, Planned Parenthood was there for me again. It's my "go to resource" for health care. Planned Parenthood is a top priority for millions of people and should be completely funded for as long as there are American citizens.

Planned Parenthood is a lifeline for millions of women, providing cancer screenings, contraception, and basic preventive health care to women across the country. Access to these basic necessities is already limited, at best, and cutting off Planned Parenthood would make their acquisition all but impossible for many women.

Planned Parenthood is about HEALTH and unwanted pregnancy PREVENTION. It helped me when I was young and uninsured, and today I have my health and a wonderful wanted family because of it.

I went to planned parenthood as a young adult for birth control and so have many of my friends! Family planning and education on healthy sex is important for everyone!!