[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 7, 2005)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1149-E1150] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF GRISWOLD V. CONNECTICUT ON ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY ______ HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN of california in the house of representatives Tuesday, June 7, 2005 Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, we are fortunate to be able to say that most Americans now take for granted the right to access and use birth control. Yet, the 40th anniversary of Griswold v. Connecticut, which first legalized the use of contraceptives, reminds us that it was not so long ago that this right was in great jeopardy. The importance and impact of this landmark decision cannot be underestimated. Ninety-five percent of women in the U.S. now use some form of birth control during their childbearing years and the number of unintended pregnancies has dropped significantly as a result of this widespread use. Thanks to the many publicly funded programs, women in all socio- economic groups have increased access to birth control. The ability to control and plan for childbirth has also created considerable improvements in the health and well-being of women, children, and families. We have seen dramatic decreases in the rates of maternal and infant mortality, and, at the same time, dramatic increases in maternal and infant health. Women's ability to control their fertility has enabled them to enter the workforce in unprecedented numbers which has contributed to the overall prosperity of our national economy. [[Page E1150]] While these successes are certainly worthy of recognition, we cannot lose sight of the challenges that remain. Despite the reductions in unintended pregnancies we've seen, the U.S. continues to have one of the highest rates of unintended pregnancies among Western nations. Among teenage girls, the rate of unintended pregnancies remains above 75 percent and estimates show that more than one-third will become pregnant before the age of 20. Many barriers to widespread access to and use of contraceptives still exist. For instance, a number of states have enacted laws that allow health care providers and pharmacists to refuse to provide birth control. Unfortunately, under the current administration's ``abstinence-only'' approach to sex education, millions of children and adolescents each year are deprived of basic facts on contraception, and are instead being taught misleading information about reproductive health. It is important to honor the 40th anniversary of Griswold not only to recognize the many accomplishments we've made in the 40 years since this landmark case, but also to remind ourselves of the work we have yet to do. We must continue to be unrelenting in our pursuit of the goal of creating unencumbered universal access to and use of contraceptives. Given the numerous successes of the last 40 years, I'm confident we can succeed. ____________________