CONCORD, NH - Pointing to her long history of working to protect a woman’s right to choose and equality for women, NARAL Pro-Choice America and the National Organization for Women announced today that they are both endorsing Ann McLane Kuster’s campaign to represent New Hampshire’s Second Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Ann McLane Kuster is the fully pro-choice candidate who has the experience necessary to keep this competitive district in pro-choice hands,” said Nancy Keenan, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “She is an outstanding advocate for New Hampshire’s commonsense pro-choice values. We are confident that, as a member of Congress, Kuster will continue to stand up for women’s freedom and privacy in the tradition of New Hampshire’s strong pro-choice advocates, including Gov. John Lynch, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, and Rep. (and future Sen.) Paul Hodes.”

NARAL Pro Choice America today pledged to mobilize its more than 3,700 member-activists across New Hampshire to support Ann McLane Kuster’s congressional campaign in both the primary and general election.

“As someone who has worked with Annie, I can attest to her commitment to the values of freedom and privacy that we hold dear in New Hampshire,” said Pilar Olivo of Concord, NH, the interim Executive Director of NARAL Pro Choice New Hampshire. “We have had many pro-choice successes at all levels in recent years, and Annie has been an integral part of this progress. Without question, she will become a leader in Congress on issues important to women and their families.”

Also today, the National Organization for Women announced their endorsement of Ann McLane Kuster.

“Ann McLane Kuster has been a longtime activist, working to improve women’s lives. We are proud to endorse candidates like Ann who are leaders in the struggle to achieve full equality for women and girls,” said National Organization for Women (NOW) President Terry O’Neill, who chairs the group’s Political Action Committee. NOW has more than 500,000 contributing members in all fifty states, dedicated to spreading equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities for women and ending discrimination.

“As an adoption attorney and a lifelong activist for reproductive rights, I’m grateful for this support,” said Ann McLane Kuster. “The last few weeks in Washington have been a painful reminder that today we have a Democratic House of Representatives but we do not have a pro-choice House of Representatives.  In Congress, I will always fight to ensure that a woman’s private health care decisions remain between her and her medical providers, without the interference of politicians.”

Ann McLane Kuster has been actively involved in advocating for equal rights and opportunities for women her entire life, and was a Founder of the New Hampshire Women’s Fund in 1998, and served as a past Vice President. She has visited Washington as a New Hampshire activist for women’s issues and reproductive rights in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, most recently visiting Capitol Hill last month to work with leaders from NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and other groups to strip a provision in the House Health Care reform bill which would effectively restrict private insurance plans from covering abortion. She has received coverage for her early and outspoken opposition to the Stupak Amendment (“Kuster Was Against Stupak Amendment Before it Was Cool,” NH Political Report, 11/11/09).

Born and raised in Concord, Ann McLane Kuster has a long history as a community activist, author, public policy advocate, and attorney with deep roots in the Granite State. She worked with New Hampshire colleges to create the UNIQUE 529 College Savings Program to help families save for their children to attend college, and worked with a coalition of health care providers to create the Medication Bridge Program that distributes free medication to New Hampshire families and seniors who cannot afford the high cost of prescription drugs.  She has served as a board member or advisor to the NH Charitable Foundation, the Trust for Public Lands, Child and Family Services of New Hampshire, the United Way, and many other community groups. She and her husband Brad live in Hopkinton and have two sons who attend college in New Hampshire.

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