Congressman Jim Moran's News Commentary

“The right of privacy…is broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.” Roe v. Wade, 1973

This past January, we celebrated the 31st anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision which gave women the right of privacy when it came to making decisions about their reproductive health. In the 31 years since this decision was reached, this right to privacy and choice has been threatened time and time again, most recently by the current administration. In fact, President George W. Bush recently signed into law two seemingly unconstitutional measures which will grant separate legal status to embryos and fetuses and the first-ever federal law criminalizing abortion without taking into account the health and life of the mother. I voted against these measures when they were considered on the floor of the House of Representatives. I am confident that these measures will be proven unconstitutional by our judicial system as have other similar measures.

Regardless of your views on these measures, we should all be uncomfortable with the direction this country is heading in terms of preserving the right to privacy. You may have heard of the recent action by Attorney General John Ashcroft to subpoena the medical records of every woman who has obtained abortion services at several hospitals nationwide in an effort to defend the so-called “Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003.” I, along with several of my colleagues, sent a letter to Attorney General Ashcroft objecting to this invasive demand for private medical records and we are awaiting a response. In my view, the Attorney General should not be able to conduct this kind of infringement on a woman’s privacy.

On April 25, 2004, millions of people from all over our great country will descend on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to march to uphold some of our most important freedoms and values in our society such as choice, justice, and human rights for all. The March For Women’s Lives, as it has been titled by its organizers, is not just for women. In fact, men and women alike should be standing strong, shoulder to shoulder, on that Sunday to showcase that we will not support the erosion of these fundamental rights. With this nation facing the very real possibility in the coming years of a change in the make-up of the Supreme Court, we must stand together to ensure women’s rights are maintained.

The March for Women’s Lives is being organized by seven leading national women’s rights groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, Black Women’s Health Imperative, Feminist Majority, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, National Organization for Women and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The march begins at 12 p.m. on the National Mall between the Smithsonian museums (between 3rd Street and 14th).

I, along with several of my constituents, will be marching on April 25, 2004 and I hope that you can join us. I am also proud that several local organizations such as Arlington NOW and NARAL Virginia will also be joining in this march. If you would like more information regarding this event or are interested in marching with us, please contact Renee McDonald (202-225-4376) or Donna Kloch (703-971-4700) of my offices. You may also electronic message them at renee.mcdonald@mail.house.gov or donna.kloch@mail.house.gov. I look forward to seeing you on April 25th!