08.03.2004

MEDIA RELEASE

Peter Accepts Support of "Women for Deutsch"
Promises to Continue Fight for Rights in Senate

Congressman Peter Deutsch (FL-20), Democratic candidate For U.S. Senate, today accepted the endorsement and active support of a new committee composed of prominent South Florida Democratic women. "Women for Deutsch" will highlight his 100% voting record on women's issues, from breast cancer research and affordable day care to equal pay in the workplace and abortion rights.

Miami political activist Shaloma Lessner, chair of the new committee, said Deutsch is the best choice to be Florida's next Senator and to stand up for women's rights.

"This is extremely important now since women are witnessing an unprecedented erosion of their basic rights," said Lessner. "Over the last three years, we’ve seen attempts to block access to contraceptives, freeze funding for family planning across the world, take away reproductive rights, and ban medical procedures even when a woman's health is at stake. This is not right, and Peter will fight to protect the rights of women."

The campaign committee will also focus on the balance of work and family, expansion of college opportunities, improved basic healthcare, increased funding for cancer research, violent crimes against women and workplace equality, as well as other issues that affect Florida's women.

State Sen. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, running to succeed Peter in the 20th District, says that his record on women's issues speaks for itself.

"Throughout his 22 year career in public service, Peter Deutsch has been an unwavering champion of women's issues," said Schultz. "He has worked aggressively to increase funding for women's health research, including critical areas like breast cancer research, and he has passionately defended family planning services and a woman's right to choose."

Rep. Deutsch also supports final passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, which would codify our nation's commitment to women's social, political and economic equality, as well as efforts to make child care more accessible for working parents.

Some highlights of Peter Deutsch' record on women's issues:

• Consistent supporter of the Department of Defense’s breast cancer research program. This peer-reviewed research program is renowned for its innovative and efficient use of resources, with over 90 percent of program funds going directly to research grants.
• Helped secure an additional $200 million in the 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Bill for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
• Consistent supporter of the Violence Against Women Act, including funding for battered women's shelters and services, law enforcement education and training, child abuse counseling programs, violence prevention programs in schools, victims' housing and more.
• Original cosponsor of the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act, guaranteeing breast cancer patients a 48-hour hospital stay after mastectomy or lymph node dissection, plus coverage for secondary consultations.
• Consistent supporter of prescription contraceptive coverage for federal employees, unrestricted access to family planning services for all Americans and initiatives to improve the health of women and children around the world.
• Strong supporter of the Folic Acid Promotion and Birth Defects Prevention Act, which would establish a national folic acid education program to prevent birth defects.
• Spearheaded Congressional action on Jeremy and Julia's Law, which would protect our children by establishing criminal penalties for negligent day care providers.
• Cosponsored the Domestic Violence Screening and Treatment Act, which would provide women with screening, assessment, treatment and referral services through Medicaid, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant.
• Consistent supporter of the Debbie Smith Act, which would standardize DNA collection and ensure prompt analysis in sexual assault cases.
• Joined Commerce Committee colleagues in supporting the Legal Immigrant Children’s Health Improvement Act of 2000, giving states the option of extending coverage under the State CHIP program to immigrant children lawfully residing in the U.S. without the five-year wait required under current law.
• Urged House colleagues to support one of our most effective public health programs -- Title X of the Public Health Service Act -- and called for full funding in the appropriations process.
• Supported additional appropriations to the National Institutes of Health for research on reducing breast cancer mortality rates through early detection.

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