Congressional Leaders Join Planned Parenthood in Calling For Replacement of Anti-Family Planning Advocate to Head Nation's Family Planning Program
They called on President Bush to replace Orr with someone qualified andcommitted to family planning. The DASPA oversees Title X, the nation'sfamily planning program, which provides high-quality family planningand preventive health care services to more than five millionlow-income individuals annually, helping prevent more than one millionunintended pregnancies each year.
On the call with reporters, Cecile Richards said, "Appointing Susan Orrto head the nation's family planning program is like choosing a policechief who doesn't believe in fighting crime. This appointment is anightmare for the 98 percent of women who use birth control at somepoint in their lives, as well as for their families."
Orr was formerly a senior director for marriage and family care at theFamily Research Council, a political organization that opposes familyplanning. While in this role, Orr cheered the Bush administration'sproposed elimination of the contraceptive coverage requirement fromfederal employees' health insurance. Said Orr of the proposal, "We'requite pleased because fertility is not a disease. It's not a medicalnecessity that you have [contraception]."
"This appointment sends a message to women across this country:ideology trumps women's health in the Bush Administration. That's whyI am calling on the Bush Administration to withdraw this nomination. The American people deserve a qualified public health expert who willserve women's health instead of serving an ideological and politicalagenda," said Senator Clinton.
Senator Patty Murray said, "This is a position with seriousresponsibilities and we need a candidate with a serious commitment towomen's health. What we don't need is another administration appointeethat has a healthier respect for the president than for sound science."
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter remarked, "We are offended and affrontedtime after time by the Bush Administration in their treatment of women.We need to put a stop to this appointment."
"This is an Alice in Wonderland moment where everything is topsy-turvy.You have an individual appointed to a position who oversees birthcontrol who opposes federal involvement in birth control. This is acritical position that could influence pregnancy prevention andcontraception. The appointment of Susan Orr does not move us forward inthis effort, it takes us back centuries," said Congresswoman DianaDeGette.
Mary Jane Gallagher (NFPRHA) said, "We need family planning serviceslike comprehensive sex education, counseling, std and cancer screeningsas well as access to contraception. Low-income and uninsured men andwomen deserve to have Title X administered by someone who agrees thatall these things are important to ensure that families are wellprepared to have children."
Earlier this year, Bush appointed Eric Keroack, another anti-birthcontrol extremist, for the same post. Keroack served as head of anorganization called "A Woman's Concern," which boasted ananti-contraception policy on its website that declared birth control is"demeaning to women." Planned Parenthood, along with 126 members ofCongress, nearly 30 media outlets and 111,000 activists demandedKeroack be removed from this position. Keroack stepped down earlierthis year amid Medicaid fraud allegations.
The Office of Population Affairs advises the secretary and theassistant secretary for health on "a wide range of reproductive healthtopics, including adolescent pregnancy, family planning, andsterilization, as well as other population issues," according to itswebsite.