FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2013
Contact
[email protected]
Today, Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) took to the floor of the House of Representatives to attack NARAL Pro-Choice America by name for what he called “silence” on the case of Kermit Gosnell. Following is the statement of Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, on his remarks.
“It’s understandable – since we haven’t been on MTV yet – that Rep. Duffy may have missed us condemning Gosnell to The Washington Post, ABC News, USA Today, “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” and The Huffington Post, just to name a few. So let me be loud and clear: Kermit Gosnell is a dangerous predator. He wouldn’t exist, couldn’t exist, without the work of Rep. Duffy and his friends in the anti-choice movement. Opponents of women’s rights have hounded safe, legal health providers halfway out of business and blocked women’s access to the quality care they need.
“The allegations against Gosnell are nothing short of horrific. His actions were reprehensible and illegal. What he did in his clinic was reminiscent of the pre-Roe v. Wade days of back-alley abortion. He took advantage of lax state oversight and desperate women whose options were limited by the relentless efforts of anti-choice lawmakers in Pennsylvania.
“Rep. Duffy should check his facts. We stand for the right of every woman to get safe, legal access to high-quality abortion care. We fight every day to protect that right. If Duffy and other anti-choice lawmakers had their way, abortion would be outlawed and there would be a Kermit Gosnell preying on women in every back alley in this country.”
NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all Americans. NARAL works to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”
###