Family Planning: Rust v. Sullivan

Representatives from Congress, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Planned Parenthood held a news conference to discuss the Supreme Court decision in the case of Rust v. Sullivan. Federal funds have never been mandated to finance abortions, nor have federally funded family planning clinics been able to perform abortions, but such clinics have been authorized to distribute information on abortion. In the landmark decision of Rust v. Sullivan, the Supreme Court ruled that federally funded family planning clinics may be prevented from even mentioning abortion as an alternative for pregnant women. Speakers at the press conference criticized the Supreme Court’s decision, arguing that it curtails the freedom of speech of clinic employees and would hurt low-income women who will not be presented with a range of family planning alternatives. Transcript Available. close