In January, FPA holds its first Legislative Conference to demonstrate the strength of New York’s pro-choice community. Nearly 500 advocates from across the state attend the conference, making this one of the largest advocacy groups to convene to-date. Speeches are delivered by all four legislative leaders: Assembly Speaker Stanley Steingut, Minority Leader Perry Duryea, Senate Majority Leader Warren Anderson and Minority Leader Manfred Ohrenstein. Each proclaims support for continued Medicaid funding for abortion, FPA’s top legislative priority. Minority Leader Duryea makes a statement in support for Medicaid funding for abortion in response to a question from the press after leaving the conference.  His comments make front page headlines in the New York Times.

After successfully kicking off its legislative agenda, FPA starts mobilizing. The New York State Campaign for Abortion Rights (NYSCAR) sponsors buses to Albany every week during the session to lobby for Medicaid funding for abortion services. More than 200 organizations participate in this endeavor. FPA establishes coordinators in 16 upstate counties and many Planned Parenthood affiliates lead local coalitions in support of Medicaid funding. FPA presents testimony at hearings on a range of reproductive health related issues to establish its presence in the State Capitol and publishes the organization’s first series of newsletters.