Louisiana Criminalizes Abortion

Misplaced Priorities Endanger Women's Health and Safety

WASHINGTON, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) denounced the Louisiana legislature for criminalizing abortion today. Demonstrating the misplaced priorities of politicians in Louisiana, the legislature passed a law that endangers women's health by criminalizing abortion at a time when the state is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina and scrambling to prepare for the start of the new hurricane season.

"This law puts extremist ideology above the health and safety of women," said PPFA President Cecile Richards. "Medically accurate sex education and access to contraception are proven tools to prevent unintended pregnancy — abortion bans are not."

An amended version of SB 33, the abortion ban, passed the Senate unopposed. The ban, which provides only an exception if the woman's life is in danger, would go into effect if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade.

"With many of the state's most basic needs unmet, Louisiana politicians would rather focus on criminalizing abortion than protecting our state's citizens in preparation for this year's hurricane season. We need homes, good education, disaster planning, and sound health care policy," said Julie Mickelberry, director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta. "We don't need laws that threaten women's health."

Across the country, hardline politicians are attempting to put roadblocks between women and reproductive health care. Following South Dakota's abortion ban, 11 other states introduced legislation this session aimed at criminalizing abortion. To stem the tide of legislation attacking women and families across the country, Planned Parenthood Federation of America has launched the Stand with the StatesSM Campaign. A major goal of the campaign is to give families access to the health care and medically accurate sex education they need to prevent unintended pregnancy.