Planned Parenthood Endorses Tsongas

Contributed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund

 Planned Parenthood Action Fund announced its endorsement of Representative Niki Tsongas to represent Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The Action Fund is the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

 “We could not be more proud to endorse Nikki Tsongas in her race for Congress,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund.  “Tsongas has long been a dedicated champion for women’s health, and in Congress, she will continue to fight for increased access to health care for Massachusetts women and families.”

“In her five years in Congress, Representative Tsongas has stood with Planned Parenthood and worked to protect and increase access to essential preventive health care services,” said Dianne Luby, president of the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts.  “Recent debates on Capitol Hill over birth control demonstrate the continued need for leaders who are willing to speak up and fight against the small but vocal minority who are determined to roll back important health care protections for women and men in Massachusetts and across the country.” 

In last year’s debate over the Pence amendment, which would have barred federal funding to Planned Parenthood, Representative Tsongas not only signed on to an important letter to her colleagues in the House but also spoke at a rally in the Boston Common that drew over 600 Planned Parenthood supporters. Since then, she has spoken out in support of the Health and Human Services rule on contraceptive access without co-pays, opposed restrictions on this rule that would limit a woman’s access to birth control depending on where she works, and has been a vocal advocate for increased access to emergency contraception.

If re-elected, Representative Tsongas will be a strong advocate in Congress to defend health care access under the Affordable Care Act and will continue to work to ensure that women, men and young people have the full range of health care information and services they need to make responsible decisions and prevent unintended pregnancy. 

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.  The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.

Editors note: Two Republicans are vying for the right to face off against Tsongas in the November election.