New York - Today marked Planned Parenthood’s 100-year anniversary. Planned Parenthood traces its origins to Brooklyn, New York, where it was founded on the revolutionary idea that women should have the information and care they need to live strong, healthy lives and fulfill their dreams. Planned Parenthood grew into a national organization working to ensure access to reproductive health services for all people, regardless of income, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity. BPCLC Co-Chair Senator Liz Krueger attended their anniversary celebration and presented them with a proclamation on behalf of the BPCLC. Sen. Krueger, Assm. Glick, Assm. Seawright, and many others celebrate the Planned Parenthood Centennial From L to R: Manhattan BP Gale Brewer, Rep. Grace Meng, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, Rep. Yvette Clarke, NYC City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Sen. Liz Krueger
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New York - The women legislators in the BPCLC have submitted comments in support of the Obama administration’s proposed amendment of regulations to the Title X Family Planning Program. The amendment would ensure that states provide fair access to family planning services and stop playing politics with women’s health.
States receive the federal funding to distribute to health care providers to ensure that low-income people can access critical services like cancer screenings, contraceptives, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and to reduce maternal mortality. Many states have restricted access to this funding from providers like Planned Parenthood that also provide abortions -- even when these providers are in the best position to deliver the family planning services. As a result, low-income women and people of color suffer the most. Link to the federal register NY Times editorial in support of the proposed regulatory change New York - State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued a legal opinion clarifying that the outdated New York State penal law cannot criminalize abortion in cases when women are guaranteed that right through the Constitution. Read the press release here. Read the full AG opinion here.
New York was a pioneer in women’s health and legalized abortion before Roe v. Wade, but now our law is outdated. The AG’s opinion clarifies that abortions performed after 24 weeks are lawful when the fetus is not viable or when the abortion is necessary to protect the health of the woman, as protected by the Constitution. Read the NY Times article on the AG opinion. Also, a Jezebel article details the efforts of a woman from New York having to bear the health risk and financial and emotional burden of traveling to Colorado to terminate a wanted pregnancy because the fetus was not viable. We will not give up the fight to update our state laws to reflect the AG’s opinion and the rights enshrined in Roe v. Wade. Albany - BPCLC members met today over breakfast to discuss several issues connected to ensuring quality, accessible reproductive health care in New York State. Topics under discussion included the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, Paid Family Leave, the Supreme Court, and New York legislation that recently went into effect allowing pregnant women to enroll in the New York State Marketplace at any time of year. BPCLC Co-Chairs, Senators Stewart-Cousins and Krueger, and Assembly Member Jaffee Assembly Members Seawright, Otis, and Simon Assm. Seawright, Sen. Krueger, and Assm. Paulin
Albany - Today the State Assembly passed the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act (S6013/A8135). The CCCA, co-sponsored by Senator John Bonacic and BPCLC member Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, provides insurance coverage for FDA-approved contraception, improves access to emergency contraceptives, allows for a 12 month supply of birth control, and covers sterilization for men and women.
BPCLC Co-Chair Senator Liz Krueger released the following statement after the passage of the bill: "Ensuring that all New Yorkers, regardless of income, have access to contraceptive options is good for our families and a vital step toward women's equality. Lack of coverage and high co-pays prevent many women and men from being able to make their own decisions about starting a family. Contraceptive equity reduces unintended pregnancies, and leads to families that are planned, safe and healthy. I congratulate Assembly Member Cahill and his colleagues for passing this bill today, I thank Senator Bonacic for his leadership, and I encourage my fellow Senators to take swift action and put this bill on the Governor's desk." BPCLC Co-Chair and Senate Minority Leader Stewart-Cousins with BPCLC members at the FPA Day of Action Albany - Today, BPCLC members rallied in the State Capitol for the Family Planning Advocates Day of Action. For their Day of Action, FPA brings together hundreds of supporters to meet with lawmakers and work to increase funding for family planning and unintended pregnancy prevention, advocate for the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act and Paid Family Leave, and to safeguard the health of incarcerated pregnant individuals.
Caucus Releases Letter To NYS Congressional Delegation Opposing Defunding Attempt Sen. Krueger and Assm. Rosenthal with Advocates New York – Today, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul was joined by members of the New York State Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus (BPCLC), including State Senators Krueger, Gianaris and Montgomery, and Assemblymembers Gottfried, Kaminsky, Lavine, Rosenthal, Seawright and Simotas, and activists from NARAL, NOW, NYCLU and others, at a rally to show support for Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), and oppose any efforts by Congress to cut off funding for PPFA. BPCLC also released a letter that was sent to members of the New York State Congressional delegation, urging them to oppose any funding cuts. The full text of the letter can be read below, and is also available here. “Planned Parenthood provides a valuable service to women across the country and is an integral part of our nation's health care system,” said Lieutenant Governor Hochul. “Just as I stood with them in Congress, defending them against political extremists who orchestrate a smear campaign to achieve their goal of eliminating a woman's right to choose, I proudly stand with Planned Parenthood and defend it so that women's healthcare is not compromised.” Lt. Gov. Hochul joins BPCLC members At the rally, supporters recognized the vital services provided by Planned Parenthood to millions of Americans every year, and condemned the ongoing attempts by anti-choice extremists to remove federal funding from PPFA health centers. "Planned Parenthood has always been on the front lines standing up for women's equality and health and now it our time to stand with them,” said Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Democratic Conference Leader and BPCLC Co-Chair. “The Senate Democrats will continue to fight for women’s rights and health and we will not let Planned Parenthood be unfairly attacked. Together we will build a stronger and fairer state and nation for our daughters and granddaughters.” “For almost a hundred years, Planned Parenthood has addressed a vital need for women across the country, providing access to a wide array of reproductive healthcare services,” said Senator Krueger, BPCLC Co-Chair. “In the face of relentless attacks by extremists who want to deny these services to millions of Americans, it is more important than ever that we stand with Planned Parenthood. We must not let anti-choice radicals turn back the clock on women’s reproductive rights. We are not going back in history; we are going to move forward." "For over 99 years Planned Parenthood has been one of the most trusted health care organizations for women in the country,” said Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee, BPCLC Co-Chair. “The recent release of heavily edited videos is part of a three year smear campaign orchestrated by one of the more extreme anti-abortion groups whose goal is to prevent women from accessing the care they need. Planned Parenthood, a non-profit health care organization, provided 378,692 pap screenings for cervical cancer, detected 87,988 cases of early breast cancer, performed 487,029 breast exams and does more to prevent unintended pregnancies than any other organization in the country. The donation of fetal tissue is not against the law and is often very cathartic for the women who choose to donate. It is seen by many in the medical and research field as an invaluable part of research for prevention of several diseases. I will continue to support Planned Parenthood as they continue providing the kind of care women can count on." Last year, nationally, Planned Parenthood provided birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and other services to 2.7 million patients, and sex education to 1.5 million people. More than 6 in 10 women who receive care at a family planning center consider it their primary, or only, source of care. One in five women in America will receive care from a Planned Parenthood provider at some point in their lives. In 2013, 1,228,700 women in New York were in need of publicly supported contraceptive services and supplies. Planned Parenthood affiliates across the state are critical in teen pregnancy prevention and the health and safety of their patients has always been their top priority. ### Letter from BPCLC to NYS Congressional Delegation:
Dear New York Congressional Delegation, We are writing to you as members of the New York State Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus (BPCLC) to oppose any votes to remove federal funding from Planned Parenthood health centers. Such a move would leave millions of women without access to birth control, cancer screenings, and other lifesaving healthcare. The BPCLC is comprised of 86 legislators in both the New York State Senate and Assembly, dedicated to protecting access to quality reproductive health services, safeguarding legal rights to reproductive healthcare in New York State, and providing a voice for state legislators in policy debates at both the state and national level. As you know, anti-choice extremists have recently launched an attack against Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). To date, two undercover videos have been released, showing PPFA medical staff discussing fetal tissue donation with anti-choice activists posing as representatives from a bio-medical company. These heavily edited videos are part of a smear-campaign aimed at de-funding Planned Parenthood and ending access to abortion by falsely alleging that PPFA is selling human tissue. As was made clear in their response to these attacks, PPFA has offered to help some patients who want to donate fetal tissue for vital medical research, which is entirely legal. PPFA does not receive any financial benefit for this service, but is sometimes reimbursed for costs. As the full, unedited videos show, it is false and despicable to suggest that Planned Parenthood profits from their patients’ decisions to donate fetal tissue. To be clear: there is nothing in these videos that suggests any violation of law. The New York Times reported that, “the Center for Medical Progress video campaign is a dishonest attempt to make legal, voluntary and potentially lifesaving tissue donations appear nefarious and illegal. Lawmakers responding by promoting their own anti-choice agenda are rewarding deception and putting women’s health and their constitutionally protected rights at risk.” These misleading videos are the latest attack in a coordinated effort to change the course of the debate around reproductive health and advance a radical agenda to ban abortion and defund Planned Parenthood. Anti-choice groups have long pushed to defund Planned Parenthood, even though no federal money is used to provide abortions. These attacks must not be allowed to succeed. Planned Parenthood is the most trusted women’s health care provider in this country, having delivered high-quality care for nearly 100 years, and it is the nation’s leading provider of reproductive health care and sex education to women, men, and young people. It is also is an important safety net provider for millions of low to middle-income Americans. Giving in to extremists by shutting down Planned Parenthood clinics would cut off 2.7 million people from access to birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and other preventive healthcare services. As lawmakers, we are called upon to stand up for the rights of our citizens. One in five women in America have turned to Planned Parenthood for high-quality health care at some point in their lives. We must stand with Planned Parenthood to ensure our community members continue to have access to affordable, quality health care from a trusted provider they depend on. The BPCLC firmly supports Planned Parenthood and urges you to vote against any attacks on them and the critical services they provide. You may reach the NYS Bipartisan Pro-Choice Caucus at (212) 490-9535. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee Caucus Co-chair Senator Liz Krueger Caucus Co-chair Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins Caucus Co-chair Caucus Honors Rev. Finley Schaef, with Concerned Clergy for Choice and Family Planning Advocates6/2/2015 On Tuesday, June 2nd, Caucus members recognized the work of Rev. Finley Schaef, a pioneering champion of women's reproductive health. Rev. Schaef discussed his groundbreaking work to convene the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion in 1966, and was honored on the floor of the Assembly. Rev. Schaef receiving recognition from BPCLC members Rev. Schaef Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee honors Rev. Schaef on floor of the Assembly Rev. Schaef with members of Concerned Clergy for Choice
On Monday, May 4th, BPCLC members joined Family Planning Advocates of NYS and supporters to push for action on issues of concern for New York women and families. Sen. Liz Krueger speaks to advocates Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Sen. George Latimer Sen. Krueger Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee
On Monday, April 30th, 33-year-old Purvi Patel was sentenced by an Indiana court to 20 years in prison on charges of feticide and neglect of a dependent. She is the second woman to be charged with feticide in Indiana, and the first to be convicted.
According to Ms. Patel, she had a miscarriage in which she delivered a stillborn fetus. Suffering from heavy bleeding, she went to the emergency room, where doctors notified the police. Prosecutors alleged that she took abortion medication ordered online, then gave birth to a live fetus that subsequently died as a result of her actions. However, a toxicologist at her trial testified that there was no trace of the medication in her bloodstream, and there was conflicting testimony as to whether or not the fetus was born alive. One of the pathologists testifying for the prosecution used a “lung float test” to determine the fetus was viable, a test that dates from the 17th century and has long been discredited. The following statement was issued in response by Senator Liz Krueger, Co-Chair of the NYS Bipartisan Legislative Pro-Choice Caucus: “From start to finish, the experience of Purvi Patel illustrates the disturbing national trend of criminalizing pregnancy and curtailing the rights of pregnant women. It is a shocking example of feticide laws -- supposedly intended to protect pregnant women -- being used instead by the state to make the outcome of pregnancy the subject of prosecution. Ms. Patel’s already tragic and dangerous situation was made all the worse by the medieval application of these laws and the use by prosecutors of discredited, 17th century forensic methods to secure a conviction. “Ms. Patel has been swept up in a broad and concerted assault on women’s sovereignty over their own bodies and their right to make their own reproductive decisions. State legislatures throughout the country are considering literally hundreds of bills that would restrict access to safe abortions and reproductive healthcare. Increasingly onerous restrictions and prosecutions lead to fear and silence among women, forcing them into dangerous situations that put their health and lives at risk – a return to the grisly days of the back alley. “That is why it is particularly shocking that on Monday the NYS Assembly considered a hostile amendment, put forward by Assembly Member Marcos Crespo and supported by 50 other members, that would have banned funding for abortions through Medicaid, cutting off access to safe procedures for some of New York state’s most vulnerable women. “Instead of criminalizing women, we should be doing a better job of increasing access to birth control, education, support, and safe abortions, and ending the stigma associated with reproductive health issues. The unconscionable injustice of Purvi Patel’s case demonstrates the need for continued action to protect the rights of women in New York and throughout the country.” 38 states have feticide laws on the books, ostensibly to give extra protection to pregnant women. But according to a study by the National Advocates for Pregnant Women, since 1973 there have been hundreds of cases of women arrested for actions deemed harmful to their fetuses, including refusing cesarean sections and taking abortion medication ordered online. Since the 2010 midterm elections, hundreds of anti-choice bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the country, with at least 235 bills introduced in 39 states in the first three months of 2015 alone. Of those, 32 have been passed by at least one chamber, and 11 have either been signed into law or await a governor’s signature. MORE INFO: NY Times: Purvi Patel Could Be Just the Beginning 3/2015 Brief, National Women’s Law Center: The debate over fetal rights is not new to the legislative arena. Every year pro-life and pro-choice advocates vie for the upper hand in this contentious issue. In recent years, states have expanded this debate to include the issue of fetuses killed by violent acts against pregnant women. In some states, legislation has increased the criminal penalties for crimes involving pregnant women. These laws have focused on the harm done to a pregnant woman and the subsequent loss of her pregnancy, but not on the rights of the fetus. Other legislation has defined the fetus as a person under fetal homicide or "feticide" laws. Such legislation is hotly debated under names such as the Fetal Protection Act, the Preborn Victims of Violence Act and the Unborn Victim of Violence Act. Those supporting these acts, often pro-life advocates, say that both the lives of the pregnant woman and the fetus should be explicitly protected. They assert that fetal homicide laws justly criminalize these cases and provide an opportunity to protect unborn children and their mothers. Those on the other side feel that laws to protect a fetus could become a "slippery slope" that could jeopardize a woman's right to choose an abortion. Pro-choice advocates say such laws grant a fetus legal status distinct from the pregnant woman - possibly creating an adversarial relationship between a woman and her baby. They are also concerned that the laws could be interpreted to apply to a woman's behavior during her pregnancy (such as smoking, drinking or using drugs). They prefer criminalizing an assault on a pregnant woman and recognizing her as the only victim. Currently, at least 38 states have fetal homicide laws. At least 23 states have fetal homicide laws that apply to the earliest stages of pregnancy ("any state of gestation," "conception," "fertilization," or "post-fertilization"). (click here for a summary of state laws) |
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