PLANNED PARENTHOOD PRESIDENT CECILE RICHARDS STATEMENT ON ANNIVERSARY OF ROE v. WADE

“It’s truly a new day for women’s health — and the health and well-being of their families. This year, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade comes just two days after the historic inauguration of President Obama, a pro-choice president committed to protecting and strengthening women’s health.

“While we know there will be efforts in states across the country to undermine a women’s right to make personal health decisions, we believe that the American people have said clearly that they are ready for a new day.  They are ready to put the divisive politics of the past behind them and ready to move forward with commonsense solutions to our pressing national problems.

“We look forward to working with our new president and our new Congress on the critical health priorities facing women, including ensuring access to affordable, quality health care; enacting commonsense policies that reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and teen pregnancies; and expanding access to affordable family planning and prevention care, both domestically and internationally.”

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. 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 nearly 800 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.