Pro-Choice Community Moves to Protect Health and Safety of Women

ALBANY, NY (04/19/2007)(readMedia)-- Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization that administers four health centers providing reproductive health care and education to over 20,000 men and women in the Capital Region, today announced its intent to gather 1,000 names from area residents in support of legislation that would safeguard the rights of women to make personal health care decisions free of government intrusion.

"Each year, thousands of women depend on UHPP for reproductive health care services, including birth control, GYN care, cancer screenings, and abortion," stated Patricia McGeown, UHPP President/CEO. "They also count on us to advocate for them with state and federal legislators to do what is necessary to protect their health and safety. This is our mission. And yesterday's Supreme Court decision flies directly in the face of that mission. Therefore, we will bring our substantial resources to bear in organizing and directing the energy of pro-choice men and women in the Capital Region to call for legislation now necessary to safeguard women's health."

McGeown explained that UHPP will utilize on-line tools, printed materials, mailings and street outreach to gather signatures in support of the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) introduced today in Congress by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY). FOCA would codify in federal law the protections for a woman's right to choose as outlined in Roe v. Wade.

"The U.S. Supreme Court," said McGeown, "has for the first time told women that, when their health is at risk during pregnancy, deciding what to do is no longer up to them and their doctors; it is instead up to politicians. The future of legal access to abortion in this country is grim."

"It's now time for state and federal legislators to stand up for women's health, women's safety, and a woman's right to make her own medical decisions. American women deserve the protection of law to preserve their right."

For more information about FOCA, visit http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-i ssues/foca-questions-12445.htm

Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the nation's leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate more than 860 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year. We also work with allies worldwide to ensure that all women and men have the right and the means to meet their sexual and reproductive health care needs.

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