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On 39th Anniversary Of Roe v. Wade, Obama Pledges To Defend ‘Women’s Health And Reproductive Freedom’

Yesterday marked the 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, which affirmed women’s constitutional right to an abortion and enshrined the fundamental principle of privacy into precedent.

President Obama marked the date by saying he remains committed “to protecting a woman’s right to choose and this fundamental constitutional right”:

“We must remember that this Supreme Court decision not only protects a woman’s health and reproductive freedom, but also affirms a broader principle: that government should not intrude on private family matters,” Obama said in a statement Sunday. […]

“While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue — no matter what our views, we must stay united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, support pregnant woman and mothers, reduce the need for abortion, encourage healthy relationships, and promote adoption,” Obama said.

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“And as we remember this historic anniversary, we must also continue our efforts to ensure that our daughters have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams.”

While the Supreme Court’s decision struck down many laws banning abortion as unconstitutional, conservative lawmakers in states across the country have been pushing the line more than ever before — and often blatantly crossing over it. Legislators pursued a record number of abortion restrictions in 2011, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Ninety-two measures enacted in 24 states dramatically limited women’s access to abortion services.