Pro-Choice Caucus Leaders Welcome Dr. Leana Wen, Newly Appointed Planned Parenthood President
Washington, DC – Congresswomen Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA), co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, issued the following statement on today’s appointment of Dr. Leana Wen as President of Planned Parenthood:
“We want to extend our deepest congratulations to Planned Parenthood’s new president, Dr. Leana Wen. This appointment could not have come at a more crucial time – when women’s fundamental rights and freedoms are under an unprecedented assault. From the anti-women federal court nominees to attacks on programs like the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program and Title X, the Trump Administration has shown it will do everything in its power to roll back the clock on women’s rights.
“But under Dr. Wen’s leadership, Planned Parenthood will be at the forefront in the fight to protect women and families. As a medical professional, Dr. Wen has long been an advocate for her patients. As Health Commissioner of Baltimore, Dr. Wen successfully sued the Trump Administration for cutting funding for their Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, restoring the program and changing thousands of lives in the process. She’s fought the Administration on the imposition of a domestic gag rule that would wrongly prohibit doctors from disclosing all appropriate health treatment options, including abortion, to their patients.
“Planned Parenthood does the essential work of providing basic medical services to the most vulnerable: low-income families, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and working families. We need Planned Parenthood now more than ever.
“As co-chairs of the Pro-Choice Caucus, we look forward to working with Dr. Wen and continuing to work with Planned Parenthood to ensure women and families have access to all health care services – including the full range of reproductive care.”
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