FPA's 29th Annual Legislative Conference: 2006

On April 3, 2006 FPA held its 29th Annual Conference at the Convention Center in the Empire State Plaza in Albany, New York. Hundreds of pro-choice advocates from across the state came to meet with state elected officials, hear nationally acclaimed speakers, participate in workshops on cutting edge reproductive health and rights issues and honor pro-choice legislators and advocates.

Kathy Najimy, a celebrated actress and activist, delivered the keynote address at the conference luncheon. Assemblymember Amy Paulin received FPA’s Margaret Sanger Award for working to enhance access to emergency contraception in New York by championing the Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act. Elected officials including Comptroller Alan Hevesi, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Minority Leader David Paterson, Assemblymember Richard N. Gottfried and Senator Nick Spano were also in attendance. Author and poet Marge Piercy read from a selection from one of her works during the conference luncheon and held a workshop on her new novel Sex Wars: A Novel of the Turbulent Post-Civil War Period. In the closing plenary session, FPA honored Dr. Susan Wood with FPA's Champion of Choice Award, in recognition of her courage in standing up to the FDA when the Administration refused to allow Plan B emergency contraception (EC) to be approved for over-the-counter use.