STATEMENT BY CECILE RICHARDS, PRESIDENT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA, APPLAUDING THE NOMINATION OF FORMER SENATOR TOM DASCHLE TO HEAD THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

And the Appointment of Jeanne Lambrew as Deputy Director of the White House Office of Health Reform

“Tom Daschle is an excellent choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.  Former Sen. Daschle is a strong advocate for health care reform and understands the need to improve access to quality, affordable health care. We are delighted by his nomination and look forward to working closely with Sen. Daschle on promoting and protecting the full range of women’s health care, including family planning and prevention services.

“We’ve worked closely with Sen. Daschle during his time in the U.S. Senate. Former Sen. Daschle has a strong record of standing up for women’s health and women’s rights and supporting commonsense policies that improve health outcomes for women.

“We also applaud the appointment of Jeanne Lambrew as deputy director of the White House Office of Health Reform. She is one of the leading health policy experts in the country, and someone who is an advocate for women’s health issues and prevention measures. 

“We are confident that President-elect Barack Obama, incoming HHS Secretary Daschle, and Jeanne Lambrew will represent an administration committed to ensuring women’s access to affordable, high-quality health care, family planning and prevention services, and to protecting a woman's right to choose. Planned Parenthood is excited about the opportunity of having true partners in the White House and HHS committed to promoting and protecting women’s health.”

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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.