NARAL Pro-Choice California Launches Prevention First: The Challenge for Common Ground
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 7, 2006
NARAL PRO-CHOICE CALIFORNIA LAUNCHES
PREVENTION FIRST: THE CHALLENGE FOR COMMON GROUND
Group urges Legislators for Commonsense Preventative Legislation
San Francisco, CA – Today NARAL Pro-Choice California delivered over 3,500 petitions from members statewide to each member of California’s Congressional delegation. “Regardless of whether you are a Democrat or Republican, the vast majority of Californians are pro-choice and our representatives in Congress should be reflecting this value,” said Amy Everitt, State Director of NARAL Pro-Choice California. “The people of California want their elected officials, both pro-choice and anti-choice, to shift the debate away from the issue of abortion and toward commonsense measures that help women prevent unintended pregnancies.”
Many organizations and community leaders across the state are supporting the “Prevention First” agenda. “As people of faith, our commitment to strong, happy families carries grave responsibility. We are called to be fruitful and multiply - but not to reproduce wantonly,” said Rev. Dr. Rick Schlosser, Executive Director of California Church IMPACT. “Care for God’s creation includes assuring that we can freely welcome our children and that we do them no harm, in part through careful prevention of pregnancies we cannot support.”
Nevada County Citizens for Choice has joined NARAL Pro-Choice California in urging their local leadership to put prevention first. In a statement today, President Elaine Sierra said, “Nevada County Citizens for Choice joins Congressman Doolittle in the desire to make the need for abortion rare. We share the same goal. Now that we have found Common Ground, let us work together to make abortions rare and reproductive health a reality for all California’s women.”
NARAL Pro-Choice California’s statewide efforts are part of a national “Challenge for Common Ground.” The petitions urge California’s leaders in Congress to support the Prevention First Act (S 20/HR 1709) sponsored by Senator Harry Reid (NV) and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28). This bill is focuses on commonsense prevention measures such as increased access to affordable birth control, educating teens with honest and accurate sex education, and providing better access to family planning services.
CONTACT: Amy Everitt, (415) 505-4405
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Click here to dowload the ad running in Sacramento-area newspapers this week.
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