NARAL Pro-Choice America Releases National Status Report On Women's Reproductive Rights In U.S.

NARAL Pro-Choice America earlier this month released its 16th annual "Who Decides? The Status of Women's Reproductive Rights in the United States" report, issuing failing grades to 19 states for enacting legislation to restrict access to abortion and other reproductive health services, CQ HealthBeat reports. According to the report, 13 states received a A+, A or A- grade; four states received a B+, B or B- grade; six states were given a C+, C or C-; and nine states were given a D+, D or D- (CQ HealthBeat, 1/30). California and Washington were the only states to receive an A+, while Louisiana, Kentucky and Pennsylvania rated worst (Ms. Magazine, 1/19). According to a NARAL Pro-Choice America release, state legislatures in 2006 considered 470 measures that favored abortion rights and 650 measures that restricted abortion rights, a 6% increase from 2005 (NARAL Pro-Choice America release, 1/19). According to the report, 21 states enacted 56 abortion-rights measures -- nine of which emphasized pregnancy prevention (Ms. Magazine, 1/19). Seventeen states enacted 45 measures that restrict abortion rights, a 22% decrease from 2005. The report includes a section on federal legislation, along with new political findings and a "year in review." Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said, "Events in 2006 have altered the future political landscape for choice. On Nov. 7 Americans reaffirmed their commitment to a woman's right to choose by electing pro-choice candidates and defeating anti-choice ballot measures across the country." She added, "One election cycle cannot change everything, but ... by working together and acting on our values, we can lay the foundation for a future in which privacy and freedom are protected" (NARAL Pro-Choice America release, 1/19).

The report is available online.


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