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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2012
NARAL Pro-Choice New York Urges Reproductive Health Act Passage as Legislators Return
Bill to Protect Women’s Health and Rights to be Top Priority for April 17th Lobby Day
Contact: Tara Sweeney, 917-488-0094
NARAL Pro-Choice New York will hold its annual lobby day in Albany on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, urging legislators and Governor Cuomo to prioritize the Reproductive Health Act in the second half of session. Hundreds of pro-choice New Yorkers from across the state will take part in a day filled with legislative visits and educational workshops at the Capitol. The day’s kick-off will feature pro-choice leaders of both parties.
"We are coming to Albany on the first day back to work to send a strong message that now is the time to pass the Reproductive Health Act,” said Andrea Miller, President of NARAL Pro-Choice New York. "We read almost every day about states rolling back the clock, restricting access to reproductive health care and eviscerating a woman’s right to choose. New York has a unique opportunity to get serious about prioritizing the health and well-being of women and families by passing this crucial bill.”
The Reproductive Health Act (S.2844/A.6112) will ensure that New York State’s abortion law explicitly protects a woman’s health, guarantees a woman’s right to choose or refuse contraception or abortion, and regulates the delivery of abortion care as a matter of public health, rather than as a potential crime.
"Most New Yorkers are surprised to learn that, right now, deficiencies in New York State law can prevent doctors from providing safe, legal abortion care if a woman develops health complications – such as stroke or cancer – late in her pregnancy. If she finds that she needs to terminate her pregnancy to protect her health, she may actually have to leave New York State – home to some of the most talented medical professionals in the country, if not the world – to get that care,” Miller said. "It’s arcane, it’s cruel, and it doesn’t make sense here in New York.”
Polls over the last five years have shown that three-quarters of New Yorkers support the Reproductive Health Act, including 70 percent of Catholics. Miller said, "Each activist joining us in Albany tomorrow represents thousands more who can’t imagine a New York in which their ability to access safe, legal, and timely reproductive health care would ever be in question. We’re making sure lawmakers know that.”
The day will begin with a welcome event showcasing speakers who represent the widespread, bipartisan support for the Reproductive Health Act among advocates, doctors, the Assembly, the Senate, and Governor’s office.
Press are invited to attend the morning welcome session in Meeting Room 2 from 11:00AM-11:45AM. Andrea Miller will hold a media availability outside Meeting Room 2 at 11:45AM.
Who: Andrea Miller, President, NARAL Pro-Choice New York; Assemblymember Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan); Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern); Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan); Assemblymember Teresa Sayward (R-Willsboro); Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers); Alphonso David, Deputy Secretary for Civil Rights to Governor Andrew Cuomo; Dr. Renee Mestad, OB/GYN
What: Welcome for NARAL Pro-Choice New York Lobby Day, followed by media availability
When: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 11:00AM-12:00noon
Where: Meeting Room 2 of the Convention Center in Empire State Plaza
NARAL Pro-Choice New York will hold its annual lobby day in Albany on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, urging legislators and Governor Cuomo to prioritize the Reproductive Health Act in the second half of session. Hundreds of pro-choice New Yorkers from across the state will take part in a day filled with legislative visits and educational workshops at the Capitol. The day’s kick-off will feature pro-choice leaders of both parties.
"We are coming to Albany on the first day back to work to send a strong message that now is the time to pass the Reproductive Health Act,” said Andrea Miller, President of NARAL Pro-Choice New York. "We read almost every day about states rolling back the clock, restricting access to reproductive health care and eviscerating a woman’s right to choose. New York has a unique opportunity to get serious about prioritizing the health and well-being of women and families by passing this crucial bill.”
The Reproductive Health Act (S.2844/A.6112) will ensure that New York State’s abortion law explicitly protects a woman’s health, guarantees a woman’s right to choose or refuse contraception or abortion, and regulates the delivery of abortion care as a matter of public health, rather than as a potential crime.
"Most New Yorkers are surprised to learn that, right now, deficiencies in New York State law can prevent doctors from providing safe, legal abortion care if a woman develops health complications – such as stroke or cancer – late in her pregnancy. If she finds that she needs to terminate her pregnancy to protect her health, she may actually have to leave New York State – home to some of the most talented medical professionals in the country, if not the world – to get that care,” Miller said. "It’s arcane, it’s cruel, and it doesn’t make sense here in New York.”
Polls over the last five years have shown that three-quarters of New Yorkers support the Reproductive Health Act, including 70 percent of Catholics. Miller said, "Each activist joining us in Albany tomorrow represents thousands more who can’t imagine a New York in which their ability to access safe, legal, and timely reproductive health care would ever be in question. We’re making sure lawmakers know that.”
The day will begin with a welcome event showcasing speakers who represent the widespread, bipartisan support for the Reproductive Health Act among advocates, doctors, the Assembly, the Senate, and Governor’s office.
Press are invited to attend the morning welcome session in Meeting Room 2 from 11:00AM-11:45AM. Andrea Miller will hold a media availability outside Meeting Room 2 at 11:45AM.
Who: Andrea Miller, President, NARAL Pro-Choice New York; Assemblymember Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan); Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern); Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan); Assemblymember Teresa Sayward (R-Willsboro); Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers); Alphonso David, Deputy Secretary for Civil Rights to Governor Andrew Cuomo; Dr. Renee Mestad, OB/GYN
What: Welcome for NARAL Pro-Choice New York Lobby Day, followed by media availability
When: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 11:00AM-12:00noon
Where: Meeting Room 2 of the Convention Center in Empire State Plaza
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