Advocacy
were ten anti-choice bills and five budget amendments that During every legislative session, Planned Parenthood Advocates of threatened access to reproductive Virginia (PPAV) lobbies members of healthcare. Particularly devastating was the passage of SB 924, a TRAP the Virginia General Assembly to (Targeted Regulation of Abortion protect and expand access to Providers) bill, which after being reproductive health care for the defeated for two decades, passed. women and men in the Additionally, Governor Robert Commonwealth. McDonnell (R-VA) approved ban on abortion coverage in any forthcoming Virginia health The staff of PPAV publishes an insurance exchange and annual brief on Planned Parenthood’s legislative successes reestablished Title V abstinenceand challenges during the session. only funding during the budget process. While funding for The public affair staff and our supporters work tirelessly to meet comprehensive sexuality education would have no upfront costs for the challenges and achieve as the Commonwealth and could many successes as possible in a potentially save thousands of difficult climate. We thank them and our volunteer advocates for all dollars annually in health care expenses, Title V requires a state of their hard work. match that could equal as much as Challenges $890,000. This was a difficult year; there
Each year, statewide advocacy staff work with legislators to introduce commonsense proactive measures that give women, teens, and families control over their reproductive lives and future. This year, Senator Ralph Northan (D-6) introduced SB 967 to ensure that all students in the Commonwealth receive evidence based and medically supported Family Life Education. While this bill was killed in committee, PPAV will continue to encourage our lawmakers to introduce common sense legislation and encourage leaders in Virginia to implement preventative approaches to reproductive healthcare.