NARAL Pro-Choice America launched Prevention First in 2005 with a challenge to President Bush and his allies who oppose abortion to join us in supporting efforts to prevent unintended pregnancies through medically accurate sex education, birth control, including the "morning-after" pill, and improved family-planning services.

• Click here for a complete timeline of NARAL Pro-Choice America's Prevention First legislative, grassroots, and media-related actions and accomplishments.
• Read below for select highlights from our Prevention First initiative.

April 2005

NARAL Pro-Choice America President Nancy Keenan joins Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in Chicago to announce the passage of an emergency rule to ensure that pharmacies in Illinois fill birth-control prescriptions without delay.

June 2005

Nancy Keenan joins NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota members and legislators in calling on anti-choice forces to come together to support preventive measures aimed at reducing unintended pregnancy.  This stop on the "Heartland Tour" coincided with the National Right to Life Committee's annual conference in suburban Minneapolis.  Later that month, Nancy Keenan, Gov. Ted Kulongoski, and NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon release a survey detailing the availability of emergency contraception at the state's pharmacies. Nancy and the governor urge the state legislature to pass two bills aimed at improving awareness of and access to emergency contraception.

February 2006

NARAL Pro-Choice America sends 26,441 messages from activists to Wal-Mart's headquarters urging the retailer to reverse its policy of refusing to carry the "morning-after" pill.  NARAL Pro-Choice America launches this latest call to action after three women in Massachusetts file a lawsuit against the retailer for refusing to stock emergency contraception.  NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts joins the women at a news conference to announce the lawsuit and joins NARAL Pro-Choice America in sending the messages.

March 2006

On March 7, 2006, NARAL Pro-Choice America enters the next phase in the Prevention First: Challenge for Common Ground by organizing events in more than 20 states and in Washington, DC.  Nancy Keenan joins pro-choice members of Congress at a Capitol Hill press conference to challenge anti-choice congressional leaders to hold votes on commonsense measures to prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the need for abortion.  NARAL Pro-Choice America publishes an ad in USA Today that similarly challenges federal and state lawmakers.

April 2006

On April 18, Nancy Keenan and members of NARAL Pro-Choice America deliver 5,000 hourglass timers and petitions to the headquarters of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with this timely message: "Women are waiting."  NARAL Pro-Choice America asks the FDA to end the three-year delay on over-the-counter access to Plan B®.  The FDA refuses to accept the petitions. 

August 2006

On August 24, after stalling on the application for more than three years, the FDA finally approves Plan B® for over-the-counter sales for women ages 18 and older. 

November 2006

On November 7, Americans reaffirm their commitment to the values of freedom, privacy, and personal responsibility by electing pro-choice, pro-prevention candidates and defeating anti-choice ballot measures in races across the country.  NARAL Pro-Choice America advises multiple campaigns in competitive races on how to best communicate with voters in a way that helps them win on their pro-choice, pro-prevention values.  Click here for more information about the election and the Prevention First initiative.

In mid-November, NARAL Pro-Choice America launches a year-long, nationwide campaign, called "Plan B. Where's Yours?" to urge national pharmacy chains to adopt corporate policies ensuring that their stores stock Plan B®.