WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) was honored last night by Planned Parenthood Federation of America for her efforts to support women’s health.  Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards singled out Capps and ten other Congressional colleagues for their prominent public support of Planned Parenthood and their efforts to protect the organization from attacks from other lawmakers intent on putting Planned Parenthood out of business.

“I’m both humbled and touched by this special recognition from Planned Parenthood,” said Capps.  “I’ve worked with Planned Parenthood since I was a school nurse in California and I am grateful for their hard work in our communities every single day, providing health care for a lot of people who don’t get it any other way. I’m delighted to work on Planned Parenthood’s behalf and I will always be there with them.”

Last year there were two concerted efforts by other lawmakers to put Planned Parenthood out of business. First, Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN-06) offered an amendment to the House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill that would have stripped all federal family planning dollars from Planned Parenthood affiliate health centers.

Later in the year, Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) offered a similar amendment to the Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill that would have prohibited all federal health care funding from being made available to any entity (except hospitals) that uses its own, private funds to perform abortions other than to save a woman's life.

Thanks in large part to the leadership of Congresswoman Capps and ten of her Congressional colleagues both of these amendments were soundly defeated.

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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.