About the Action Network

A solid majority of Americans support the ideal of ensuring that every child is a wanted child. Unfortunately, there are state and federal policies being debated that could make it difficult for many women and men to access the health services that would help them achieve this ideal, and existing public policies deny people the information and access to resources they need to make informed decisions about their lives. Planned Parenthood advocates for new policies at the federal and state levels that will advance responsible reproductive health care and decision making. And we, too, are making a commitment to better meet the health care needs of women and their families.

At the dawn of the 21st century, we believe it is long past time that everyone had equal and open access to the information and services they need to make conscientious, safe, and responsible decisions about sex and reproduction. The means already exist. Now we must translate the social consensus into a political consensus to make responsible choices a reality.

Our Action Network provides an easy way for you to send e-mails and faxes to your member of Congress on issues relating to family planning, sexuality education, and reproductive health. It is an automated system that allows you, a supporter of reproductive choice issues, to quickly and easily send a message (fax or e-mail) to your elected officials. The system is linked to a database storing the information you submit about yourself. This database also includes the names and congressional district information of all of the current elected officials in the US (i.e., senators and representatives). By providing your contact information you will receive periodic legislative updates and action alerts that will allow you to stay informed, speak out, and make a difference.

Why it's important for you to take action

Your elected officials have a responsibility to listen to you and take your opinions into consideration as they do their job. However, it's up to you to make your opinions known to them so they can represent you accurately! We know you have a busy life so we have set up a system that makes it very easy for you to contact your legislator. We have made the whole process as easy as replying to an e-mail. When we learn about an issue that threatens reproductive freedom, we send you an e-mail with the background information, the letter to be sent to your senator/representative, and the means to send your message. All you have to do is simply reply to the e-mail and a letter is sent automatically to your state and federal senator and/or representative. It's easy, and you can rest assured that your voice has been heard.

Information we collect about you

We collect your name, address, city, state, and zip so that we are able to assign you to the correct elected official for your congressional district. Our database system runs your address through a program that changes your zip to the standardized zip+4 format. This allows us to ensure that your name is matched to your congressperson or representative, so that when you use our system and reply to an e-mail, your e-mail or fax goes directly to your elected official. We do not use your address for any other purpose than to accurately assign you to your elected officials.

In addition, we collect your e-mail address, which is essential, as we use e-mail as our primary method of communicating with our activists.

Unsubscribing from the Action Network

If you wish to unsubscribe, visit your personal subscription management page.

Personal Information You Choose to Provide

You may choose to provide information by sending us an email or personal story, signing a petition, or sending an electronic letter to Congress. All of these submissions are completely optional.

• If you provide your name, address, and telephone number, and email address by signing the petition or sending an electronic letter to Congress, we will have a record of your information. Your personal information will not be given or sold to any other organizations or entities not affiliated with Planned Parenthood.
  
• If you choose to join the Planned Parenthood Action Network activist list and database your information will be added to our activist list and database. We have an electronic network and therefore need an email address to send you informational updates and action alerts on reproductive rights issues. We need your full postal address in order for our unique email-to-fax system to automatically match you to your member of Congress.
  
• Finally, we will receive any other information you choose to provide, such as "personal stories" you submit. By submitting the story to us, you give us permission to edit it, post it on the Web site, and use it in appropriate settings designed to illustrate the importance of reproductive health freedoms. If you want to protect your privacy, try not to include any identifying information in your "personal story."

If you don't want to join the Action Network but want to send letters

We have a method for you to send a letter (fax or e-mail message) to your elected official about reproductive choice issues without signing onto the Action Network. Simply click on an action item on the Planned Parenthood Action Network homepage and fill in your name and address and choose not to join the network. This means that your information will not be collected in our database, but you will still be able to contact your elected officials about the issues that mean so much to you. Remember, we still need you to fill in your full address so that we can send the letter to your elected official.