The New York Civil Liberties Union today applauded the Rochester Board of Education’s decision to make condoms available to city high school students. “This new policy will help keep our teens healthy and safe,” said KaeLyn Rich, director of the NYCLU’s Genesee Valley Chapter. “It is an important step in providing Rochester's young people the tools they need to protect their sexual and reproductive health.”

The New York Civil Liberties and 26 other women’s health organizations have sent a letter to U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., thanking her for sponsoring a bill to expand access to crucial health-care services for the more than 400,000 women serving in the U.S. military. The legislation, the Military Access to Reproductive Care and Health (MARCH) for Military Women Act, would provide federal coverage for abortion care for military personnel and families in cases of rape or incest and allow privately-funded abortions to be performed at military treatment facilities.

The New York Civil Liberties Union today applauded the New York City Department of Education’s announcement that it will mandate sex-education classes for middle and high school students beginning this fall.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced that all new insurance plans under the health reform law provide women contraception without co-pays, deductibles or other out-of-pocket expenses. The new measure will ensure that millions of women in New York State and nationwide have greater access to a broad range contraception and preventative health services. A panel of experts at the Institute of Medicine had recommended the policy.

In an important step forward for women’s health, the Institute of Medicine has recommended to the federal government that new insurance plans under the health reform law provide contraception without co-pays, deductibles or other out-of-pocket expenses.

The New York State Assembly’s Health Committee today approved the Reproductive Health Act, legislation that will strengthen and modernize New York's abortion laws. The following is attributable to Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union:

Legislation pending in the State Assembly would cut state funding for birth control, life-saving cancer screening, pregnancy tests, HIV testing and counseling services. The bill, A.7841, would amend state law to deny state funding to Planned Parenthood or any organization that performs abortions. The following statement is attributable to Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union:

The New York Civil Liberties Union has filed an amicus brief in federal court in support of a New York City law that requires pregnancy service centers to disclose whether they have a licensed medical provider on staff and whether they do or do not provide prenatal care, emergency contraception, or abortion services or referrals.

The New York Civil Liberties Union today applauded the City Council’s expected passage of legislation that will require New York City pregnancy service centers to disclose whether they have a licensed medical provider on staff and whether they do or do not provide prenatal care, emergency contraception, or abortion services or referrals.

At a New York City Council hearing today on a bill to require crisis pregnancy centers to fully disclose the scope and limits of their services, the New York Civil Liberties Union suggested revisions to the legislation that would strike an appropriate balance between the centers’ right to free speech and women’s right to access reproductive health care free of coercion, deception and delay.