Planned Parenthood Sets Prevention-First Health Care Agenda
For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014
34th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade a Powerful Reminder That The Struggle for Women’s Health and Safety Continues
WASHINGTON, DC — On the 34th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), the nation’s leading advocate and provider of reproductive health care, is urging supporters, opponents and lawmakers alike to champion a prevention-first health care agenda that reduces unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion.
“Roe v. Wade is a powerful reminder that deciding whether and when to become a parent is one of the most personal and important choices we make,” PPFA President Cecile Richards said. “In the November elections, Americans in state after state signaled their support for commonsense policies that ensure access to essential reproductive health care services.”
The January 22, 2007, anniversary of Roe v. Wade comes on the heels of the 2006 elections, when voters nationwide rejected extremist policies and politicians and defeated dangerous abortion bans and restrictions that threaten women’s health. Despite widespread support for women's health and safety, the Bush administration plowed ahead with the controversial appointment of anti-birth control hardliner Eric Keroack to a key reproductive health care post. As head of the Title X program for the Department of Health and Human Services, Keroack has been entrusted with overseeing the funding of birth control and family planning services for thousands of low-income women and families, despite having a history of opposition to contraception.
“The right to a safe and legal abortion is supported by the majority of Americans, but we also recognize that there is so much more our country can and should do to help women and couples prevent unintended pregnancies. Seventeen million women in this country need access to family planning services, but the Bush administration refuses to meet the need to help women and families with this basic health care. Teen pregnancy is a nationwide epidemic in the United States. This year, 820,000 teens — reflecting the highest rate of teen pregnancy among the most developed countries — will get pregnant. We owe it to our teens to provide health and sexuality education that enables them to make lifelong responsible choices about relationships, respect and sexuality.
“Thirty-four years after Roe, the struggle to protect women’s health and safety continues as the Bush administration plays politics with public health,” added Richards. “Planned Parenthood is calling on the new Congress to work with us to expand access to reproductive health care and real sex education for women and families.”
Every year, in communities nationwide, Planned Parenthood provides millions of women, men and teens with the information, education and services they need to protect their health, prevent unintended pregnancy, plan and space healthy, wanted pregnancies — and ultimately, to fulfill their dreams and destinies.
Source
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
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Published
January 22, 2007
Updated
September 07, 2016