THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

                   VIDEOTAPED REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
            IN MESSAGE ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE

THE PRESIDENT: On January 22, we marked the 25th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that affirmed very woman's right to choose whether and when to have a child, and in doing so, affirmed two of our nation's most deeply-held values, personal privacy and family responsibility.

Over the past 25 years, Roe v. Wade has had a major positive impact on the health and well-being of American women and their families. Safe, legal abortion has all but eliminated the dangerous, clandestine conditions that claim too many women's lives when the procedure was illegal.

I'm committed to keeping abortions safe, legal, and accessible -- and to making it more rare. Over the last five years we've led the way on policies to prevent unintended pregnancy by making comprehensive family planning and sex education programs more widely available. We've increased support for Title X family planning services every year in our budget. And I'll do so again this year.

I fought to continue funding for international family planning, bringing much needed health care to women all around the world. Here, at home, by working together with health care professionals, community groups, schools and family planning agencies, we've made real progress in reducing teen pregnancy. And I was proud to sign legislation to protect the rights Roe established by protecting women's clinics from violence. We have enforced that law to its full extent.

I will continue to do everything I can to make sure that every child in America is a wanted child, raised in a loving, strong family. Ultimately, that idea is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade celebrates.

Hillary and I join with all of you in commemorating his milestone and pledge ourselves anew to protecting the right to choose.

Thank you and God bless you.

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