Planned Parenthood Applauds Sens. Shaheen, Boxer and Klobuchar for Condemning Violence Against Women's Health Care Providers

For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014

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As one of the nation’s leading advocates and providers of women’s health care, including reproductive health services, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) applauds U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) for authoring a resolution (S.Res.187) condemning violence against women’s health care providers and honoring the late Dr. George Tiller, who was shot to death at his church on Sunday, May 31.

“We applaud Senators Shaheen, Boxer and Klobuchar for standing up for women’s health care providers and introducing a resolution condemning violence against them,” said PPFA President Cecile Richards. “The tragic loss of Dr. Tiller was deeply felt by all of us. He provided critical reproductive health care services to women facing some of the most difficult medical circumstances.”
 
The resolution highlights Dr. Tiller’s death as the latest in a trend of violent incidents against women’s health care providers, and condemns the use of violence as a means of preventing women from receiving reproductive health care. The resolution calls for Congress to end this trend by “recogniz[ing] that acts of violence should never be used to prevent women from receiving reproductive health care” and “condemn[ing] the use of violence as a means of resolving differences of opinion.”
 
“Our goal is to ensure that women can access the care they need from health care providers without either party living in fear of verbal intimidation or physical attack,” said Richards. “We stand with Senators Shaheen, Boxer and Klobuchar and all the cosponsors in their commitment to protecting women and the providers who care for them.”

The Senate resolution was sponsored by Senators Shaheen, Boxer, and Klobuchar.  It was cosponsored by Senators Murray, Durbin, Dodd, Schumer, Lautenberg, Mikulski, Landrieu, Gillibrand, Harkin, Carper, Sanders, Kaufman, Wyden, Kerry, Lieberman, Tom Udall, Levin, Brown, Whitehouse, Burris, Mark Udall, Stabenow, Baucus, Cantwell, Bingaman, Inouye, Cardin, Specter, Johnson, Feingold, Leahy, Tester, Snowe, Begich, Akaka, Bennet, Feinstein, Warner, McCaskill, Reed, Kennedy, Lincoln, and Merkley.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.