Barack Obama and Joe Biden: The Change We Need | Blue Ball 2: Obama Cosponsors Freedom of Choice Act (letter)

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Obama Cosponsors Freedom of Choice Act (letter)

By blueball2 - May 22nd, 2007 at 12:04 am EDT

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Dear Beth:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your support for legislation that would protect access to reproductive health services. I understand and share your perspective on this critical issue.

I view the choice of whether to have an abortion as a deeply personal one that should be left to a woman, her family, her doctor and her conscience. For women who make that choice, I believe abortion should be safe, legal and rare — consistent with the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, and I will work hard to keep it that way.

The Freedom of Choice Act, or S. 1173, declares that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child, terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect her life or her health. I support this fundamental principle, and am a cosponsor of the Freedom of Choice Act. This legislation has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for review.

Furthermore, access to education, counseling and reproductive health services should be expanded. We can and must do more to ensure that every woman in every part of our country has real access to quality family planning services. I am a cosponsor of a bill introduced by Senator Harry Reid, S. 21, which seeks to expand access to preventive health care services that help reduce unintended pregnancies, reduce the number of abortions, and improve access to women's health care.

Also, I support government policies to encourage a variety of viable alternatives to abortion. I am, for example, a strong advocate of proposals that will make adoption easier and more affordable.

Again, thank you for sharing your concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator

P.S. Stay up to date with Barack's work in the Senate and on issues of importance to Illinois. Subscribe to the weekly podcast here: Link

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