TONIGHT: Supporters of Women’s Health to March Following Senate Vote
For Immediate Release: July 12, 2013
Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Cecile Richards, Texas Senators, Supporters to Lawmakers: “This is Just the Beginning. We’re in it for the Long Run.”
Austin, TX – Ignoring the thousands of Texans who have stood up in Austin and throughout the state to oppose attacks on women’s health, the State legislature is poised to pass House Bill 2 tonight, which will virtually end access to safe and legal abortion in much of the state. Over the past few days, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund “Stand with Texas Women” bus tour has rallied with thousands of Texans in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Brownsville and McAllen, and is returning to Austin today.
Over the few weeks, Texans sent more than 34,000 letters to legislators urging them to oppose this legislation, and more than 11,000 demanded public hearings across the state.
A march from the capitol will begin after the Senate vote and will be followed by a speaking program that is expected to begin at 10:00 PM CT.
WHO: Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Members of the Texas Senate and House of Representatives
WHEN: March will begin immediately after the Senate vote.
Set time for Media: 8:00 PM CT
Program will begin at approximately 10:00 PM CT
Throw: 50 feet
Cable run: 700 feet
Multi box and power will be provided
WHERE: Republic Square Park
Corner of 4th St and Guadalupe St.
WHY:
-Once House Bill 2 passes, dozens of health centers will shut their doors and leave thousands of Texas women without access to care.
-Texas has the nation’s highest rate of those without health insurance for fifth straight year according to Gallup, and ranks near the bottom in terms of women receiving prenatal care.
-Policies put in place by Governor Rick Perry and the state legislature have already forced more than 55 women’s health centers to shut their doors; these health centers provided lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control, STD testing, and basic preventive health care.
-As a direct result of Perry’s actions, more than 130,000 women a year in Texas are no longer able to get medical care, because their visit to a women’s health center was the only health care they received.
-The Texas Hospital Association, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Texas District of ACOG, and individual doctors across the state strongly oppose this bill.