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Quigley Highlights Importance of Women’s Reproductive Health

September 19, 2016

CHICAGO — Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, visited a Planned Parenthood health center in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. He joined Planned Parenthood of Illinois leadership to discuss the many critical health services provided by the facility, including cervical cancer screenings in light of September being National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

“Health care facilities like Planned Parenthood are working hard to provide both men and women with access to comprehensive, preventative and affordable health care in the city of Chicago and across the nation,” said Rep. Quigley. “Seeing firsthand the essential services these centers provide, like cervical cancer screenings, highlights just how important it is to adequately fund and support these organizations. The essential work they do is even more apparent this month, which is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Planned Parenthood and women’s access to health care has been under constant attack from lawmakers who are putting politics ahead of the reproductive rights of women. I’m proud to stand with Planned Parenthood today and every day.”

“We are honored to have Re. Quigley with us today to highlight the importance of access to the full range of reproductive health services, including cancer screenings,” said Linda Diamond Shapiro, Planned Parenthood of Illinois Interim CEO. “Rep. Quigley has always been an unwavering champion and we are proud to have him in our corner.”

During the visit, Rep. Quigley learned about the health care services provided at the busy Wicker Park health center location. He toured an exam room, laboratory and colposcopy room. Much of the visit focused on the many women’s health services that the Wicker Park health center provides including breast exams, cervical cancer screenings, mammogram referrals, Pap tests and more. Rep. Quigley also discussed the proposed rule by the Obama Administration to protect Title X funding, as well as the different payer mix that the Wicker Park health center experiences.

Rep. Quigley was joined by Linda Diamond Shapiro, Interim CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois; Liz Higgins, Associate Medical Director; Cristina Parks, Wicker Park Health Center Manager; Haydee Ramos, Regional Director and Julie Lynn, Manager of External Affairs.

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Planned Parenthood Visit

Rep. Quigley with Planned Parenthood health center staff at the Wicker Park location in Chicago.

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Planned Parenthood Visit

Rep. Quigley with Planned Parenthood leadership Linda Diamond Shapiro, Interim CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois; Liz Higgins, Associate Medical Director; Cristina Parks, Wicker Park Health Center Manager; and Haydee Ramos, Regional Director discussed health care services the Wicker Park center provides.

This year, an estimated 22,280 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It is the fifth leading cause of death among women nationally. Research in this area has led to better ways to detect high-risk genes and assess a woman's ovarian cancer risk, but there is still no cure.

Rep. Quigley is a staunch advocate for comprehensive reproductive health care and an ardent supporter of a woman's right to choose. A member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, he has previously spoken out against Supreme Court cases that could turn back the clock on women’s right to choose, like Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt,against efforts to ban abortions after 20 weeks and legislation that would make it harder for victims of rape and incest to receive abortion care. Rep. Quigley has been a vocal supporter of ending the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal funds to pay for an abortion, and has encouraged his colleagues to support the EACH Woman Act, which ensures health coverage of abortion services for every woman, no matter how much she earns, how she is insured, or where she lives. He also supports requiring employers to cover contraception in basic benefits packages.