Reproductive Rights

Representative Louise Slaughter is a longstanding advocate for the reproductive rights of women living in the United States and throughout the world.  In the 107th Congress, Rep. Slaughter assumed the position of Democratic Co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, a Members' organization which works to protect women's reproductive freedom and to educate the public about reproductive choice.  In this position, Rep. Slaughter has brought together leaders from both sides of the aisle to introduce legislation ensuring the availability of family planning, including emergency contraception; access to comprehensive sex education for our nation's young people; the protection of pregnant women from violence; and the right to choose legal and safe reproductive health options.  In addition, the Congresswoman, along with the Pro-Choice Caucus leadership, has fought against federal abortion bans and attempts to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

Rep. Slaughter's Commitment to Women's Reproductive Rights

Representative Slaughter is a long-time supporter of a woman's right to choose from a full range of reproductive options. Given the number of unplanned pregnancies which occur each year, she believes we must all work to provide the necessary support and counseling in order to improve access to contraception and knowledge of reproductive choice. Toward this end, she has sponsored H.R. 819, the Prevention First Act. 

Because reproductive choices are deeply personal in nature, Rep. Slaughter believes such choices should rest with the woman, her physician, and the family or friends she chooses to consult. If a woman's choice is to bear a child, she can always count on Rep. Slaughter to vote in support of pre-natal care, child care, nutrition, immunization and educational programs.

Throughout her tenure in Congress, Rep. Slaughter has fought to protect a woman's right to choose. In particular, she has spoken out and voted against congressional efforts to restrict physicians' ability to treat patients by selectively banning certain procedures.

Concerned about tactics utilized by anti-choice extremists to shut down health care clinics in the Rochester and Buffalo region and across the country, Rep. Slaughter was an original cosponsor of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1993 (FACE). Rep. Slaughter believes it is important to guarantee that a woman's right to choose abortion is not rendered useless because she cannot get through the door of a clinic. In May 1994, FACE became law, making it a federal crime to obstruct access to a reproductive health clinic or to interfere with anyone seeking health services.

In addition to her many other accomplishments on reproductive rights, Rep. Slaughter has:

·                     Spoken out against numerous anti-choice bills to restrict a woman's right to access abortion, including access for women in the military, in prison, on Medicaid, and employed by the federal government.

·                     Supported efforts to increase funding for international family planning programs and adamantly opposed proposals to tie payment of United Nations arrears to cuts in international family planning funds.

·                     Authored numerous letters to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting further details about the agency's continuous delays in a decision to approve over-the-counter sales of emergency contraception.

·                     Signed Congressional amicus briefs filed with the Supreme Court to express opposition to Nebraska's misleadingly named "partial birth abortion" ban as unconstitutional, to reaffirm the principles of Roe v. Wade, and to protect the security at reproductive health care clinics.

·                     Opposed efforts allowing healthcare providers the right to refuse to provide women with information, referrals, and access to abortions.

·                     Opposed an executive order issued by the Bush Administration, known as the "global gag rule," to discontinue U.S. family planning funds to overseas organizations that support legal abortion.

·                     Organized a series of educational briefings featuring prominent members of the Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, and Jewish clergy to discuss the pro-choice position from a faith-based, values-based perspective.

Links

The links below provide further information regarding Rep. Slaughter's efforts as Co-chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus to ensure the protection of women's reproductive rights.

·                     The Prevention First Act, H.R. 819