Remarks by Speaker Sheldon Silver

Press Conference: The Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act

State Capitol, Speaker's Conference Room
Monday, January 31, 2005

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver stresses to reporters at a Capitol news conference the Assembly Majority's long-standing commitment to ensuring women's access to a comprehensive range of quality and wide-ranging health-care services. The speaker called on the state Senate to approve The Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act. Audio Excerpt 1 (20 seconds) Audio Excerpt 2 (21-seconds) View Transcript

Here we are, five years and 32 days into the 21st Century - the so-called New Millennium - and women in this State still cannot obtain emergency contraception without a prescription from their physician or clinic. Twenty-seven nations and six states give women access to emergency contraception without a prescription - but not the Empire State.

In our ongoing effort to remedy this outdated and discriminatory practice, the Assembly intends to pass The Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act this afternoon, making 2005 the third consecutive year that we have passed legislation enabling women to obtain emergency contraception directly from a pharmacist or registered nurse without a prescription.

Here in support of the bill are numerous Members of the Assembly Majority, including the prime sponsor of our legislation, Assembly Member Amy Paulin, as well as the Chair of our Health Committee and co-sponsor of this bill, Assembly Member Dick Gottfried. In a few moments, they will once again address the specifics of our bill.

We are privileged to have some special guests joining us this afternoon as well. Speaking on our legislation will be:

• Kelli Conlin, the Executive Director of the New York Chapter of NARAL Pro-Choice;

• Donna Williams, Executive Director of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists;

• And JoAnn Smith, Executive Director of Family Planning Associates.

Also standing in support of our bill are:

• Macary Weck, from the Albany College of Pharmacy, representing the Pharmacists Society of New York State;

• Janet Haebler representing the NYS Nurses Association;

• Denise DiPace, representing the New York State Social Workers;

• Marsha Pappas, representing the National Organization of Women/New York;

• And, Dr. David Ackman, representing the New York State Association of County Health Officials and the Nassau County Health Commissioner.

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, sponsor of the legislation, also urged the state Senate to pass the act so New York women can avert the crisis of an unintended pregnancy.

As you may remember, on September 30th, 2003, the Assembly Majority's "Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims" legislation was signed into law.

Sponsored by Assembly Member Susan John, this legislation - which the Assembly Majority had to take up and pass three years in a row before it became law - requires hospitals to counsel rape survivors on the use of emergency contraception and to offer medication on site.

If there is to be any justice, New York must take this next step forward.

Study after study proves that emergency contraception is safe. It is effective. It prevents unintended pregnancies. Additional studies indicate that making emergency contraception available over the counter does not promote unsafe behaviors.

In fact, the medication was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1997.

Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried told reporters that a women's access to emergency contraception should be based on medical science, not political ideology.

Eight years later, the Agency still has not approved emergency contraception for over-the-counter dispensing, and now a lawsuit has been filed to force the approval.

It is a "slap-in-the-face" to women and to this Democracy that a lawsuit must be brought to ensure their health and safety.

In the words of Margaret Sanger, "No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her own body"

As New Yorkers, we find the FDA's stall tactics repugnant. So, once again, the Assembly Majority is stepping up to defend a woman's right to choose.

We will pass The Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act this afternoon, and we urge the Governor and our colleagues in the Senate to join us in making our legislation the law of this State.