NARAL Pro-Choice America President Nancy Keenan with President Obama at a White House event in February 2008. |
Wednesday, April 29 marks the 100th day of President Barack Obama's administration.
This milestone is a reminder of how electing leaders who support the fundamental American values of freedom and privacy does make a difference in the lives of women and their families.
In just 100 days of President Obama's leadership, we have seen many positive signs of change on issues related to reproductive-rights:
- President Obama rescinded the global gag rule, the Bush administration policy that canceled U.S. family-planning funds to many overseas health centers and denied the world's poorest women access to birth control. (January 23)
- President Obama re-funded the U.N. family-planning program, UNFPA, which President Bush had de-funded for seven years straight. Obama also signed legislation into law boosting UNFPA funding to a record $50 million. (January 23 and March 11)
- President Obama signaled his commitment to medically accurate sex education by including it in his first-ever budget outline. (February 26)
- President Obama announced his intention to repeal the controversial, last-minute Bush policy known as the Federal Refusal Rule. The regulation could have allowed entire health-care corporations to refuse to provide medical services - including, potentially, birth control. (February 27)
- President Obama signed legislation into law fixing the birth-control price crisis at college health centers and safety-net provider clinics across the country. (As a senator, Obama authored this legislation.) (March 11)
- President Obama signed legislation increasing family-planning funding for American women by $7 million, and cutting the failed "abstinence-only" programs by $14 million. (March 11)
- President Obama signed legislation increasing international family-planning funding at the USAID by more than $30 million. (March 11)
While there is reason to celebrate, it will be a long and bumpy road to progress. There will be budget debates, a possible vacancy on the Supreme Court, and more.
As Pulitzer-Prize-winning columnist Cynthia Tucker said to NARAL Pro-Choice America members during the early weeks of this administration: "Obama didn't say, 'Yes, I can,' he said, 'Yes, we can.'"
What You Can Do
- Obama nominees are under attack simply because they've taken pro-choice positions. Take action!
- As a member of our Choice Action Network, we'll send you action alerts and updates when we need your help the most. Sign up below.
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