On the recordJune 6, 2013
Madam President, I rise today to recognize the 48th anniversary of the landmark Griswold v. Connecticut Supreme Court decision. Nearly 50 years ago, the Court greatly expanded women's access to health care by legalizing the use of contraception by married couples, basing this decision on a fundamental right to privacy in family planning decisions made between a man and a wife. We have come a long way since 1965. Today, options for birth control are safer, more effective, and available to far more people than just married couples. The simple facts are that 99 percent of women will use contraceptives over the course of their lifetime, and the vast majority of Americans find the use of contraceptives morally acceptable. This progress shows just how important contraceptive products and services have become to our country. Preserving this access should be a noncontroversial, bipartisan issue. And yet access to contraceptives and to Federal programs such as title X that support reproductive health care services are under attack not only by the loud voices of a small minority but also by some Members of Congress and in the courts. We have an alarming situation on our hands. Now more than ever, it is important that we continue to fight back against these outrageous attacks and talk about these issues in terms of the proven scientific facts. As a U.S.…





