North Dakota Planned Parenthood Advocate

Governor Dalrymple Signs 20-Week Abortion Ban

Fargo, ND – Last night, a particularly cruel and dangerous attack on women’s health was signed into law by North Dakota Governor Dalrymple.  The abortion ban outlaws abortion after 20-weeks.  It includes a very narrow exception for medical emergencies and does not have an exception to protect the health of the woman or in cases of a fetal anomaly. 

As the result of a similar — yet less restrictive — measure passed in Nebraska in 2010, a woman named Danielle Deaver, was forced to continue a pregnancy even after a health crisis meant she was going to lose the pregnancy.  She was forced to live through 10 excruciating days waiting to give birth to a baby that she knew would die minutes later, because her doctors feared prosecution under her state’s 20-week abortion ban.

This comes on the heels of the legislature’s and the Governor’s actions in March to enact a near total abortion ban in the state, effectively making North Dakota one of the most hostile states in the country towards women’s health. Last month, Governor Dalrymple signed into law the most extreme ban on abortion in the nation, including a law that forbids safe and legal abortion as early as 6 weeks — before a woman may even know she is pregnant. There are no exceptions if a woman has been the victim of rape, if her health is threatened, or if she will lose the pregnancy due to fetal anomalies. 

The following is a statement by Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota President and CEO, Sarah Stoesz.

“Governor Dalrymple’s decision to sign a 20-week abortion ban into law late last night serves as the final segment in a series of cruel and unconstitutional laws that severely compromises the health and well-being of all North Dakota women and their families.”

“This bill, along with the sweeping package of bills signed last month, is unconstitutional and will not stand up in court.  But as a result of North Dakota’s leaders’ disregard for women’s health, the state will endure months and years of drawn-out litigation costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. What a reckless and appalling waste of resources.”

 “Now, the voters of North Dakota will contend with what’s left of the state’s all-out assault on women’s health over the next several month leading up to a battle over “Personhood” in the 2014 election. “Personhood” measures are so extreme even voters in the most conservative states, like Mississippi, have rejected them.”

“North Dakotans know that decisions about pregnancy and abortion are deeply personal and very complex. The grassroots uprising we saw in Bismarck and Fargo last month are proof of that. In 2014, North Dakotans will have the opportunity to stand up to these politicians and say ‘enough is enough.’”

Victory for Fargo Teens: Sex Education Program Will Proceed

BISMARCK, ND – Today legislators stripped the Grande amendment from Senate Bill 2368, which would have ended a partnership between North Dakota State University (NDSU) and Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) to provide sex education to at-risk youth in Fargo. As a result, the competitive $1.2 million grant, awarded in September 2012, will be used by NDSU to launch a three-year sex education program for Fargo-area teens in partnership with Planned Parenthood.

Following is a statement from Sarah Stoesz, PPMNS President and CEO of PPMNS.

“Today, the health and well-being of North Dakota teens prevailed over politics.”

“We are gratified by the conference committee’s vote and we are ready to move forward. Preventing teen pregnancy helps break the cycle of poverty, improves educational attainment, and improves health outcomes. Because the health and well-being of our young people is paramount, we’re thrilled that we can continue this teen pregnancy prevention and life-skills building program in North Dakota.”

“We’re also very pleased that NDSU will be able to move forward with this important research which will no doubt inform public health programs for young people for years to come in the state. The professors we are partnering with at NDSU are experts in adolescent health and we are proud to work with them going forward.”

Governor Dalrymple Signs Virtual Abortion Ban

North Dakota Braces for Litigation as “Personhood”Heads to 2014 Ballot

Fargo, ND – Today, Governor Dalrymple signed a near total abortion ban into law, effectively making North Dakota one of the most hostile states in the country towards women’s health. Governor Dalrymple secured North Dakota’s place in history as the state with the most extreme ban on abortion by signing one bill that will ban safe and legal abortion as early as 6 weeks — before a woman may even know she is pregnant. There are no exceptions if a woman has been the victim of rape, if her health is threatened, or if she will lose the pregnancy due to fetal anomalies. This comes on the heels of last week’s actions by the North Dakota Legislature which launched the state into a bitter, 20-month battle over “personhood” leading up to the 2014 election. Planned Parenthood will work in partnership with a broad coalition of doctors, patients, teachers, lawyers and others to educate our fellow North Dakotans about the far-reaching consequences and impact of “personhood.”

The following is a statement by Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota President and CEO, Sarah Stoesz.

“With his signature, today Governor Dalrymple severely compromised the health and well-being of all North Dakota women and their families.”

“This sweeping package of bills will not stand up to constitutional scrutiny. But as a result of North Dakota’s leaders’ disregard for women’s health, the state will endure months and years of drawn-out litigation costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. What a reckless and appalling waste of resources.”

“One thing became clear during the last few weeks: North Dakotans do not want to see politicians interfering with the personal medical decisions of women. Hundreds of grassroots activists spoke loudly and clearly as these bills moved through the legislature. Planned Parenthood was proud to play a role in amplifying the voices of North Dakotans who bravely stood in opposition to this abortion ban.”

“What’s left of the legislature’s all-out assault on women’s health is what will no doubt be a grueling, months-long battle over “personhood” leading up to the 2014 election. “Personhood” measures are so extreme even the most conservative states, like Mississippi, have rejected them. North Dakotans know that decisions about pregnancy and abortion are deeply personal and very complex. The grassroots uprising we saw in Bismarck, Minot, Grand Forks and Fargo was just a taste of what’s to come as voters in the state learn about the dangers of this constitutional amendment. In 2014, North Dakotans will have the opportunity to stand up to these politicians and say ‘enough is enough.’”

Victory for Fargo Teens: Sex Education at Planned Parenthood Will Proceed

BISMARCK, ND – Yesterday an opinion from the North Dakota Attorney General said clearly and decisively that a state law used as justification to suspend funding for a teen pregnancy prevention program was “completely invalidated” by a decades-old Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decision. As a result of the Attorney General’s opinion, the competitive $1.2 million grant, awarded in September 2012, will indeed be used by North Dakota State University (NDSU) to launch a three-year sex education program for Fargo-area teens in partnership with Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS).

Following is a statement from Sarah Stoesz, PPMNS President and CEO. 

“We are gratified by this decision and we are ready to move forward. We have a responsibility to make sure that we are preparing young people in our state for productive and bright futures.  Preventing teen pregnancy helps break the cycle of poverty, improves educational attainment, and improves health outcomes. Because the health and well-being of our young people is paramount, we’re thrilled that we can continue this work in North Dakota.

“We’re also very pleased that NDSU will be able to move forward with this important research which will no doubt inform public health programs for young people for years to come in the state. The professors we are partnering with at NDSU are experts in adolescent health and we are proud to work with them going forward.”

“Yesterday’s news marks a decisive warning to North Dakota officials and politicians nationwide who would seek to prevent teens from sex education and life skills education by Planned Parenthood educators.  Politics should never interfere with health care or education.”

Planned Parenthood: “Health care decisions should be left to a woman, her family, her doctor, and her faith — not politicians.”

The following is a statement from Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota President and CEO Sarah Stoesz on today’s developments in the North Dakota Legislature:

“Last week, with a vote of 26 to 21 on the Senate floor, North Dakota legislators advanced a so-called “Personhood Constitutional Amendment.”  In addition, they advanced medically unnecessary regulations that are intentionally written to be impossible to comply with and could potentially put abortion access out of reach in North Dakota. 

“The defeat of ‘personhood’ state constitutional amendments all across the country — from Colorado and Ohio to Mississippi and Oklahoma — sends a clear warning to the North Dakota legislature and Governor Dalrymple: health care decisions should be left to a woman, her family, her doctor, and her faith — not politicians.  North Dakotans expect real solutions to the real problems facing our state – not government intrusion into private medical decisions.  

“Politicians in North Dakota are wasting taxpayer time advancing what would no doubt become another divisive constitutional amendment with dangerous unintended consequences for North Dakota families. Planned Parenthood will continue to fight these legislative attacks on women’s health in partnership with a broad coalition of doctors, patients, teachers, lawyers and other concerned North Dakotans who do not want to see politicians inserting themselves into the private medical decision-making of women and families in our state.”

Planned Parenthood Congratulates North Dakotans Against Measure Three on Election Night Victory

Over the past several weeks, health care providers, former judges, prosecutors, doctors, lawyers, child advocates, victim advocates, religious leaders and social workers from all across the state joined together to help North Dakotans Against Measure Three raise awareness about the so called "Religious Liberty Restoration Amendment." Tonight, voters overwhelmingly rejected the measure.

Statement from Sarah Stoesz, President of the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund

“Planned Parenthood has been working in North Dakota for many years, and the health and well being of North Dakota’s families is so important to us. Our deepest congratulations go to North Dakotans Against Measure Three for this victory.

“Tonight, North Dakotans – with a strong and clear NO vote – affirmed that religious liberty is securely protected in the US Constitution. Measure Three was divisive, unnecessary and could have had dangerous consequences. Tonight’s vote protects state laws against child abuse or neglect, laws against domestic violence, laws that affect access to health care, including birth control, and laws that ensure equal opportunity in the workplace.”

“We applaud North Dakotans Against Measure Three for working tirelessly to educate voters about the dangerous consequences this amendment could have had for women and families in the state.”

 

President Obama Reaffirms Commitment to Women’s Access to Birth Control; Fight Continues in Congress

In the face of an outrageous assault on women’s health, the Obama administration has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring all women will have access to birth control coverage, with no costly co-pays and no additional hurdles, no matter where they work.

“Our number one concern is making sure women have access to basic health care, including access to contraception, and Obama’s announcement today means that all women will have that access no matter where they work or who their employer is,” said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS). “The compliance mechanism does not compromise a woman’s ability to access critical birth control benefits.”

Statement of Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, on the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Decision to Reinstate Funding for Breast Cancer Screenings at Planned Parenthood Health Centers Nationwide

The outpouring of support for women in need of lifesaving breast cancer screening this week has been astonishing and is a testament to our nation's compassion and sincerity.

This show of support underscores what a critical resource Planned Parenthood is in the fight to detect and prevent breast cancer.  We were so heartened by the calls and emails we received from people in our region, who made it clear that they did not like to see politics playing a role in women’s health care. 

Planned Parenthood Statement on Komen Foundation Succumbing to Political Pressure and Ending Breast Cancer Prevention Funding

Planned Parenthood today expressed deep disappointment in response to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation’s decision to stop funding breast cancer prevention, screenings, and education at Planned Parenthood health centers. Anti-women’s health groups have repeatedly targeted and boycotted the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation for partnering with Planned Parenthood to provide these lifesaving cancer screenings and news articles suggest that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation ultimately succumbed to these pressures.

“As a health care provider to more than 60,000 women in our community, Planned Parenthood is trusted a leader in helping women identify breast cancer early. Women are deeply alarmed that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation appears to have succumbed to political pressure from a vocal minority”, said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS). “For years, opponents of women’s health have waged an aggressive pressure campaign aimed at the Susan G. Komen Foundation at the expense of women’s health and lives.”

Planned Parenthood Recognizes National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month By Urging Women to Get Regular Checkups

 

Making New Year’s resolutions? As part of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) is urging women in North Dakota to put preventive checkups, including cervical cancer screenings, at the top of their lists. 

Every year, approximately 13,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and about 4,000 American women die of the disease. 

“The New Year is the perfect time to see if you’re due for a checkup,” said Sarah Stoesz, PPMNS President and CEO.  “Regular screenings and preventive care, including the HPV vaccine, are the keys to combating cervical cancer.”