Pelosi Sworn in as House Minority Whip, Vows to Highlight Women’s Health Issues in Congress
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has vowed to move reproductive health issues such as family planning funding and abortion rights into the "legislative limelight," was officially sworn in as House minority whip yesterday, becoming the "highest-ranking woman ever elected to federal office," Women's ENews reports (Stevens, Women's ENews, 2/5). "I see a woman's right to choose under assault in every branch of government," Pelosi told 1,400 members of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League at a dinner last month, adding that she also plans to make other women's health issues such as cancer research a focal point in politics. Pelosi believes that by highlighting the issue of abortion rights -- and by pointing out that many antiabortion Republicans are also opponents of federal programs for family planning and contraception -- she will help win votes for Democratic congressional candidates (Sherman, AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 2/6). Pelosi specifically hopes to solidify support for Democrats among women, a "key constituent group" that already largely supports Democrats, and she has said that she plans to help campaign for female Democratic candidates in this fall's elections (Women's ENews, 2/5).
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