Bush Administration Appointee Keroack Was Unqualified to Run American's Family Planning Program

Planned Parenthood Demands Legitimate Public Health Expert Be Appointed to Key Women's Health Post

WASHINGTON, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) the nation's leading reproductive health care advocate and provider, celebrated the news Thursday that anti-birth control advocate Eric Keroack will no longer oversee Title X, the nation’s family planning program. The day he took office, Planned Parenthood launched a massive grassroots campaign against Keroack, rallying a nationwide groundswell of opposition to his appointment.

PPFA President Cecile Richards issued the following statement on the resignation:

“It’s a good day for women’s health. Keroack was unqualified to run the nation’s family planning program. The Bush administration must replace Keroack with a legitimate, mainstream public health expert who supports family planning and access to birth control. More than 17 million women in our country need access to affordable birth control. The nation’s family planning program should be run by a champion for women’s health and safety.”

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate nearly 800 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year. We also work with allies worldwide to ensure that all women and men have the right and the means to meet their sexual and reproductive health care needs.