Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Biden’s administration over their readjustments to Title X that allows teenagers access to birth control without parental consent. Title X, created in 1970, is a program that helps with family planning for low-income and uninsured families. However, a new change by Biden’s administration has angered Ken Paxton, who claims this rule defies the federal court.
Title X was a program designed to ensure access to family planning for low-income and uninsured families. It had initially allowed teenagers to receive birth control confidentially and without the consent of parents. However, in 2022, US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryx ruled that Title X violated parental rights and disregarded federal and state laws. He declared that Alexander Deanda, a Texas father, had lost his “fundamental right to control and direct the upbringing of his minor children” in the Deanda v. Becerra case.
A recent order from the Biden administration allows schools to distribute birth control to teenagers without permission from parents. Paxton claims this ruling denies parental rights and argues it is unlawful. He also states that “by attempting to force Texas healthcare providers to offer contraceptives to children without parental consent, the Biden administration continues to prove they will do anything to implement their extremist agenda.”
Carmen Robles Frost, joining the suit, agrees with Paxton and claims that this new change by Biden’s administration hinders her ability to raise her children according to the Christian faith. Jonathan F Mitchell will represent Robles Frost in this suit to be heard by Matthew Kacsmaryk, as he also helped Deadna in the original case.
The program Title X has been created to help with preventive health services and planning for families, but Paxton believes that the addition of minors having access to contraception without the consent of an adult violates the law and makes it challenging to raise children, as supported by many parents.
Works Cited
Nerozzi, Timothy H.J., and Fox News. “Texas Sues Biden Administration over Program Giving Birth Control to Teens without Parents’ Knowledge.” Fox News, FOX News Network, 26 July 2024, www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-sues-biden-administration-over-program-giving-birth-control-teens-without-parents-knowledge.
Texas sues Biden administration to limit teenage access to birth control (2024) The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/26/texas-teenage-birth-control-lawsuit (Accessed: 17 August 2024).