WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1) today issued the following statement regarding the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s reversal of their policy stopping funding grants for Planned Parenthood.

“It is a victory for the women of America that the Komen Foundation announced today they reversed their policy and will continue to provide funding for Planned Parenthood. I commend the millions of women and men who stood up to express their outrage, forced Komen to rectify their action, and proved the strength of our citizens’ ability to achieve justice. But I still remain stunned that Komen made such a decision in the first place. Komen and Planned Parenthood’s relationship is a natural partnership that promotes the health of millions of women, and Komen’s original decision to sever that relationship based on political pressures was deeply troubling.

“But more troubling still is Komen’s clear failure to employ a science-based grant process. In the case of Planned Parenthood, political concerns seem to be placed above the need for medically-necessary screenings. Beyond the Planned Parenthood grants, I have grave concerns that last fall, seemingly during the same time they decided to change that policy, Komen also enacted a new policy of refusing to fund the pursuit of lifesaving ethical embryonic stem cell research (ESC), despite a history of recognizing its great potential. Given the massive resources of their organization and the great potential of ESC for breast cancer treatment and even cures, it is deeply disturbing Komen has turned its back on this research because of the same political pressures that led them to the original Planned Parenthood decision. A politically-motivated grant process has no place in the pursuit of life-saving screenings, treatments, and research.

“It is my great hope that this entire episode proves to Komen that as they set the criteria for grant awards, their cause and mission would be best served by enacting a science-based grant process, free from political pressure or motivation. Promoting appropriate, science-based research and treatment is the only way we can achieve good research and treatments, and ensure we are saving lives.”