The House of Representatives recently voted to eliminate federal funding to Planned Parenthood, an organization that allows free access to numerous services that benefit women’s health. More than three million people are now at risk of losing this important resource because of the controversial focus on the abortion services that the organization also provides.

Politics aside, Planned Parenthood is an asset to many people, especially those without health insurance. It is not simply an abortion clinic – its 800 health centers around the country give men and women access to educational information about reproductive and sexual health, as well as access to birth control, preventative screenings for conditions like ovarian cancer, and potentially life-saving tests for HIV, HPV, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

While the legality of abortion remains a constant topic of controversy, Hillary Clinton has been a major proponent for reproductive health care over the years and has much to say about keeping open access to these crucial services.

“Family planning is an important part of women’s health, and reproductive health includes access to abortion that I believe should be safe, legal and rare. Keeping women and men in ignorance and denied the access to services actually increases the rate of abortion,” Clinton said at a hearing regarding reproductive rights in 2009.

What are your thoughts on the Planned Parenthood controversy? Is access to the organization’s services a valuable necessity or are there other alternatives?

Click here to read Planned Parenthood’s open letter to congress.