FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2019
Contact: Liza Dee, [email protected]
Miller: Both moderators and candidates failed to focus on reproductive health care, including access to abortion
New York – Andrea Miller, president of the National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) Action Fund, released the following statement criticizing both the moderators and Democratic candidates for their failure to address reproductive freedom, including access to abortion, over the course of either debate. This week’s debates came amid ongoing attacks by anti-abortion extremists in the White House and statehouses across the country, including the Trump administration’s recent attack on abortion access and reproductive health care through disastrous changes to the Title X program.
“Over the course of two Democratic debates with significant time spent discussing health care, both the moderators and candidates failed to focus on access to abortion and other reproductive health services,” said Andrea Miller, president of the National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund. “With reproductive freedom under attack and millions of people waking up each day wondering whether they will be able to access essential health services they need, including abortion care, we urge candidates and moderators to address this crisis. Voters absolutely need to know where candidates stand on access to reproductive health care, including abortion – and it’s not enough to say, ‘I support a woman’s right to choose.’ While some states have pushed forward to protect access to abortion care, the reality is that Roe v. Wade is on the chopping block, and each candidate must show how they will fight to expand reproductive health, rights, and justice.”
For more than a decade, NIRH has been a leader in the fight to advance reproductive freedom across the country. Recently, they were integral to the successful effort to repeal an outdated criminal abortion ban in Massachusetts, and they led the fight to pass New York’s landmark Reproductive Health Act. Earlier this year, NIRH published a report tracking the passage of more than 100 bills to advance reproductive health, rights, and justice in 27 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.).
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The NIRH Action Fund conducts nonpartisan advocacy and electoral engagement to advance reproductive freedom in states and cities across the country.