8-25-08, 2:29 pm

The same day Barack Obama announced his decision to select Joe Biden as his running mate, three major national women's health and advocacy organizations expressed strong approval of the decision.

In a statement for the press released just hours after the announcement went out by text and e-mail to Obama supporters on Sat. Aug. 23rd, the political action committee of National Organization for Women (NOW PAC) described Biden as 'a friend of women and a strong selection for Vice President.'

The NOW PAC statement applauded Biden's authorship of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which has helped to protect thousands of women from domestic violence.

NOW PAC further expressed excitement that Hillary Clinton's name will be placed in nomination at the Democratic Convention and that the convention will celebrate Women's Equality Day, the anniversary of the passage of the Women's Suffrage Amendment to the Constitution.

(The Obama campaign enthusiastically backed the effort to convince the convention to allow Clinton's name to be placed in nomination.)

In addition, NOW PAC stated, 'We know that Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is a longstanding opponent of women's rights, and NOW PAC will actively work to prevent him from succeeding George W. Bush in the White House.'

On women's health issues, Biden has been 'positive' and 'constructive,' read a statement from the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL).

The NARAL press statement hinted that in the past there have been differences with Biden on abortion issues, but that he has a good record of opposing hard right judges, including Bush-appointees John Roberts and Samuel Alito.

Biden, according to the NARAL statement, also co-sponsored the 'landmark Prevention First Act,' which promotes 'commonsense efforts to prevent unintended pregnancy by improving women's access to birth control, ensuring teens receive accurate sex education, and supporting family-planning programs.'

The NARAL statement added, 'Sen. Biden has a strong record in opposition to anti-choice clinic violence and voted to hold anti-choice extremists convicted of violent attacks against doctors and patients at women's reproductive-health centers accountable for their criminal actions.'

Citing many of these same issues, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund added, 'We are confident that an Obama-Biden White House would prove to be one committed to ensuring women’s access to affordable, high quality health care and protecting a women's right to choose. Planned Parenthood is excited about the opportunity of having true partners in the White House committed to protecting women’s health.'