Planned Parenthood Action Fund Endorses Suzan DelBene

Washington, DC — Planned Parenthood Action Fund announced its endorsement of Suzan DelBene for Washington’s 1st Congressional District. The Action Fund is the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

“We are proud to endorse Suzan DelBene for Congress,” said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “We are confident that Suzan will stand up for women and their families, and stand up to politicians in Washington who continue to launch attacks against women’s access to health care.”

DelBene is running against Republican John Koster. Washington’s 1st District seat, currently vacant, was formerly held by Democrat Jay Inslee. Inslee resigned to focus on his run for governor.

“Suzan DelBene understands that health care in America needs to be accessible and affordable for everybody and has vowed to be a strong advocate for women’s health care access in Congress,” said Sara Kiesler, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest. “Women and families in Washington’s 1st Congressional District can count on Suzan DelBene to fight for them in Washington and to put women’s health ahead of politics.”

DelBene has vowed to be a strong advocate for Planned Parenthood patients in Washington. In 2011, the 35 Planned Parenthood health centers located in Washington served 119,539 patients by providing a wide range of preventive health services, including: 29,440 cervical cancer screenings (i.e., Pap tests) that detected 1,840 abnormal results that required further diagnosis and treatment, 21,158 breast exams that detected 181 abnormal results that required further diagnosis and treatment, and 82,555 tests for chlamydia — the leading cause of preventable infertility — that resulted in 2,376 positive results and follow-up treatment.

Learn more about other champions for women’s health on Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s Women are Watching website: www.womenarewatching.org