Planned Parenthood to honor Pelosi at gala

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will receive Planned Parenthood’s highest award at a national gala next month, the group said Friday.

The annual event in Washington, D.C., brings together leading Democrats, pop culture figures and Planned Parenthood activists to discuss the state of U.S. abortion rights.

{mosads}Pelosi will receive the group’s Margaret Sanger Award for her commitment to abortion rights and leadership in passing ObamaCare, said Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards. Previous honorees include Martin Luther King Jr. and Hillary Clinton.

“No one is more deserving of this honor than Leader Pelosi, who has fought tirelessly throughout her career to protect and expand women’s access to healthcare,” said Richards in a statement.

The announcement comes amid speculation that Pelosi may leave Congress in 2015. While aides deny that she is considering an exit, looming departures from Pelosi’s inner circle have raised questions about her future.

Planned Parenthood’s gala has gained significance as the group’s political arm grows in power and influence.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund played an outsized role in the 2012 election, spending millions to support Democratic candidates and receiving a near perfect return on its investments, according to a review by the Sunlight Foundation.

As a thank you, President Obama delivered a speech to the group in connection with its gala last year.