PPHP Calls for Advancement of RHA

“It is time for the New York State Senate to get back to work passing meaningful legislation, including the Reproductive Health Act,” said Reina Schiffrin, President/CEO, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic.

Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic today reached out to the Governor asking him to make women’s health care a priority by adding the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) to the Senate’s mandated agenda, and urged Senators to pass RHA for the benefit of women and families in New York State.

RHA will ensure that the reproductive health care delivery system women in New York have become accustomed to will remain intact. Eighty-five percent of voters say they want the state to proactively protect reproductive health care. The Governor and Senate can respond to this call by enacting the Reproductive Health Act.

Almost three quarters of New Yorkers believe the Reproductive Health Act should be passed by both houses of the legislature and signed into law by the Governor. RHA has enjoyed bipartisan support, and it would likely have seen Senate passage by now if the actions of a few Senators on June 8 hadn’t halted all Senate work. “We urge the Senate to put aside the issues that have caused this two-week stalemate and respond to the voter mandate for passage of a progressive agenda, including the Reproductive Health Act,” added Schiffrin.

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Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, Inc (PPHP) is the 16^th largest affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and operates 13 medical centers in Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam Counties.  In 2007, PPHP has provided services to over 37,000 patients in over 73,000 visits.  We conducted over 1,700 education programs reaching more than 32,000 youth and adults, and mobilized approximately 10,000 advocates to protect reproductive health care rights.  PPHP has served the community for 75 years, and is dedicated to educating and empowering individuals to make responsible choices regarding their sexuality and sexual health.  Planned Parenthood has done more to reduce the incidence of abortion and unintended pregnancy than any other health care provider or advocacy group.  PPHP is headquartered in Hawthorne NY. For more information about PPHP services and programs, visit http://www.pphp.org/.