Planned Parenthood Action Fund Endorses Mark Murphy and Nate Shinagawa for Congress
For Immediate Release: Jan. 27, 2013
Planned Parenthood Action Fund Endorses Mark Murphy
and Nate Shinagawa for Congress
Two New York Champions for Women and Women’s Health
Washington, DC — Planned Parenthood Action Fund today announced its endorsement of New York congressional candidates Mark Murphy for NY-11 and Nate Shinagawa for NY-23. The Action Fund is the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
“We are proud to endorse Mark Murphy and Nate Shinagawa in their races for Congress today,” said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “The Republican race to the bottom on women’s health issues over the last few months has shown, yet again, how crucial it is to send advocates for women’s health to the U.S. House of Representatives. New York congressional candidates Mark Murphy and Nate Shinagawa are outstanding advocates who will fight to protect and promote women’s health. And that’s exactly who New Yorkers, and all Americans, need representing them in Washington.”
NY-11 congressional candidate Mark Murphy opposes efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade, supports equal pay for equal work, and applauds the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Murphy is running to unseat Congressman Michael Grimm.
“Staten Island congressional candidate Mark Murphy will be a champion for women in Congress because he knows that politics have no place in a woman’s health care decisions,” said Joan Malin, president of Planned Parenthood New York City Action Fund. “Women and families in Staten Island can count on Mark Murphy to fight for them in Washington and to put women’s health care needs ahead of ideology and politics.”
NY-23 congressional candidate Nate Shinagawa is a strong advocate for women’s health, access to safe and legal abortion, and pay equality in the workforce. Shinagawa is running against Republican incumbent Tom Reed.
“Nate Shinagawa is an outstanding candidate and champion for women’s health,” said Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York President M. Tracey Brooks. “With all of the attacks on women’s health in Congress, it’s time to elect a strong supporter of women and families. Nate Shinagawa will stand up to extreme attacks and work to make sure that Americans have access to the health care they need.”
"This past year has brought some of the most aggressive and politically motivated attacks on women’s health care in a generation. In order for us to make sure Americans have access to affordable and high-quality health care, we need to do all that we can to elect candidates like Nate Shinagawa who will be strong supporters of women and families," said Karen Nelson, president of the Western New York Chapter of Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York.
"People across our community tell me they are so worried about elections this year. They realize that elections matter and are paying close attention to the candidates’ positions on women's health. Nate Shinagawa will stand up for women's health,” said Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region Action Fund Executive Director Betty DeFazio.
"Planned Parenthood serves tens of thousands of women, men, and teens throughout the new 23rd district. Our communities and Planned Parenthood patients deserve to be represented in Congress by someone who will stand up for family planning and sex education; someone who knows that women have a right to make their own personal, private medical decisions without interference from politicians. Nate Shinagawa is that person, and that is why we're so happy that the Planned Parenthood Action Fund has endorsed his candidacy,” said Joe Sammons, president of the Southern Finger Lakes Chapter of Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York.
In 2011, the 68 Planned Parenthood centers located in New York served 216,001 patients by providing a wide range of preventive health care services, including 62,818 breast exams, which detected 230 abnormal results that required further diagnosis and treatment, and 54,153 cervical cancer screenings (i.e., Pap tests), which detected 7,501 abnormal results that required further diagnosis and treatment.
Learn more about other champions for women’s health on Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s Women are Watching website: womenarewatching.org.