Planned Parenthood

NEW YORK, NY – May 31, 2009 -- Cecile Richards, President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, today issued the following statement on the murder of reproductive health care provider Dr. George Tiller in Wichita, KS.

The entire Planned Parenthood family is deeply saddened by the murder of Dr. George Tiller. While he was not a Planned Parenthood provider, he was an integral part of our community and his loss is felt by all of us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and those close to him who are suffering a personal tragedy.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- “This historic nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court sends a strong signal that President Obama understands the importance of ensuring that our Supreme Court justices respect precedent while also protecting our civil liberties.

“Judge Sotomayor has vast experience in nearly every aspect of the law, having served as a big-city prosecutor and a corporate litigator, a federal trial judge on the U.S. District Court, and an appellate judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.    » read more »

Report Underscores Need For Inclusion Of Reproductive Health In National Reform Efforts, Highlights Roadblocks for Women in Current Health Care System

WASHINGTON, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) today applauded the Department of Health and Human Services for a new report, released during National Women’s Health Week, placing an important spotlight on the impact that the nation’s health care crisis is having on women, particularly women of childbearing age.    » read more »

Ends Ineffective Abstinence-Only Programs, Provides New Funding for Evidence-Based Comprehensive Sex Education — Missed Opportunities to Strengthen Title X And Ensure Women’s Access to Full Range of Care

March 10, 2009 -- “As our nation works to strengthen women’s health care, there is both good and bad news in this budget. While the budget is a step in the right direction toward reducing alarmingly high unintended pregnancy rates and helping ensure that young people have the information and health care they need to become healthy and productive adults, it misses an opportunity to build on one of the nation’s most effective programs in reducing unintended pregnancies,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA).    » read more »

March 24, 2009 -- Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) applauded today’s ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York ordering the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to expand access to emergency contraception (EC), also known as Plan B.

“Today’s federal court ruling puts women’s health ahead of politics,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “We must do everything we can to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and protect the health and safety of all women.”    » read more »

By Cecile Richards, President Of Planned Parenthood Federation Of America

March 19, 2009 -- “With nearly 750,000 teens getting pregnant every year, the United States is facing a teen pregnancy health care crisis. When something is broken, our country works to fix it. We must work together to fix this crisis and reduce unintended pregnancies.    » read more »

Washington, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation of America today applauded Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) for protecting the health of teens with the introduction of the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act. The REAL Act authorizes federal funding for comprehensive, medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education to give young people information about how to prevent pregnancy, protect their health and make responsible decisions.    » read more »

Lauds Appointment of Longtime Women’s Advocates Jarrett and Tchen

Washington, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation of America applauded President Barack Obama for signing an executive order today establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls under the leadership of longtime women’s advocates Valerie Jarrett and Tina Tchen.    » read more »

Washington, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation of America today applauded the passage of legislation to make birth control affordable again for millions of women who obtain contraceptives at community health centers and college clinics. The provision was included in the 2009 omnibus appropriations bill that passed the U.S. Senate today and the House of Representatives two weeks ago.

In 2005, Congress passed the Deficit Reduction Act, which tightened eligibility for nominally priced drugs. In doing so, Congress inadvertently cut off safety-net providers and every college and university health center from obtaining contraception at a low cost, and passing on those savings to their patients. As a result, women have been paying up to 10 times more each month for basic contraception.    » read more »

March 6, 2009 -- Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) applauds the Obama administration for proposing a rule to rescind a Bush midnight regulation that undermines the country’s ailing health care system as well as patients’ access to health care information and services.    » read more »

Highlights Planned Parenthood's Role as Safety-Net Health Care Provider To Millions of Women

WASHINGTON, DC – Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, told the White House Health Care Summit today that increasing access to affordable preventive care is critical as our elected officials address health care reform. Richards joined leading health care providers, members of Congress, advocacy groups, and members of the Obama administration in a discussion of ideas to improve our ailing health care system.    » read more »

March 2, 2009 -- Statement of Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“As countless women and their families struggle to afford quality health care during these difficult economic times, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is an excellent choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Gov. Sebelius is a strong advocate for health care reform and has a proven track record of increasing access to affordable care. She has a strong record of supporting commonsense prevention policies that improve health outcomes. Her ability to work in a bipartisan fashion will serve her well as the Obama administration and Congress tackle the critical issue of health care reform for American families.    » read more »

Obama Administration Takes First Step To Repeal Rule That Limits The Rights Of Patients To Receive Complete And Accurate Health Information And Services

Feb. 27, 2009 -- Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) applauds the Obama administration for taking the first step in rescinding a midnight regulation that undermines the country’s fragile health care system as well as patients’ access to health care information and services.    » read more »

Includes Expanding Medicaid Family Planning Programs To Prevent Unintended Pregnancies and Strengthen Women's Health Care

Feb. 26, 2009 -- Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) applauds President Barack Obama for living up to his commitment to supporting women’s health and investing in commonsense proposals to expand family planning programs. President Obama’s 2010 budget includes a provision to expand family planning under Medicaid, which would help extend basic health care to millions more women. In addition, the president’s budget promotes “evidence-based” teen pregnancy prevention programs.    » read more »

Columbia University Study Highlights New Framework for Women’s Health

WASHINGTON, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) applauds U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today for introducing the Health Care for Women Act, a congressional resolution to highlight the importance of women’s health and ensure that health care reform addresses the needs of women and families.    » read more »