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| SEPTEMBER
18, 1998 10:15 AM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Planned Parenthood Federation of America |
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| Senate Fails to Override President's Veto of Far-Reaching National Abortion Ban; Planned Parenthood Applauds Senators for Standing Up for Women | ||||
| WASHINGTON
- September 18 - The following is a statement by Gloria Feldt, President, Planned
Parenthood Federation of America: Today, 36 members of the U.S. Senate showed true courage by voting to sustain the President's veto of an abortion ban that posed a serious threat to women's health. Despite intense election-year pressure, these Senators once again thwarted the drive by anti-choice lawmakers to pass H.R. 1122 -- a bill with the power to outlaw most safe methods of abortion throughout pregnancy. This attempted national abortion ban has shown us politics at its worst. Opponents of a woman's right to choose hoped to score political points by forcing vote after vote on this bill. Today marks the eighth time since 1995 that Senators had to cast their votes on this far-reaching legislation. The vote was scheduled -- cynically -- to coincide with the election cycle. This may be politics-as-usual on Capitol Hill, but it shouldn't be ... particularly when women's health is at stake. If the Senate had not upheld President Clinton's veto of this abortion ban, Americans would be subjected to a dangerous intrusion of government into the doctor-patient relationship. Its failure to make any exception to preserve a woman's health stands as a stark reminder that anti-choice sponsors would sacrifice a woman's well being to satisfy their political agenda. That's why, in state after state, Planned Parenthood and its allies have gone to court to challenge state laws similar to the bill that has now been successfully vetoed. In 18 of the 20 states where lawsuits have been filed, the abortion bans have been blocked. The chambers of justice have allowed reality to rise above the rhetoric that has dominated the political debate. Judges have taken the time to listen carefully to medical experts and legal authorities. And, with few exceptions, they have consistently found that these bans are unconstitutional. Only a handful of days remain in the 1998 congressional session. With time so scarce, we should turn our attention to what we can all agree upon -- real solutions to the problems of unintended pregnancy. We challenge members of Congress to act now to ensure that family planning programs that are proven to help reduce the need for abortion -- both here and abroad -- do not fall victim to political posturing. ### |
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