Tell Congress to Stop Attacking Women!

Instead of fixing the economy or creating jobs, Congress is busy attacking women and families.  The introduction of H.R.3, the so-called “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act”, sponsored by Congressman Smith (NJ-4), is another example of misguided priorities in Congress. In a recession, Congress should be supporting health care access for our families, not chipping away at protections and coverage.

This bill would have a devastating impact on poor women and particularly Latinas and women of color. It is another callous attempt to restrict access to abortion at our expense.

Specifically, this legislation, in conjunction with other recently introduced anti-choice bills, would:

-Impose tax penalties on small businesses that fully cover women’s health, including abortion care
-Allow hospitals to deny abortions for women, even in life-threatening situations
-Essentially eliminate private health insurance coverage for abortion; a benefit that approximately 87% of insurance plans currently cover
-Roll-back benefits for women that were fought to be included in the new health reform law
-Continue to corrode low-income women’s access to health care, increasing health disparities between poor and wealthy women

Representatives have attempted to quiet public outrage by contemplating removing one word from H.R. 3, which seeks to narrow the definition of rape. But they have replaced that word with an even worse provision in a separate bill that will allow hospitals to refuse to provide safe and legal abortion, even if a woman’s life is at stake. The original cruel restrictions for victims of sexual violence demonstrate a complete disregard for women’s safety and well-being that can be found in every section of this bill. This attack on women’s health cannot be solved by merely replacing one word with an even more harmful provision.

These tactics against women must stop in their entirety.

Because Congress is aggressively pushing these measures, we must have our voices heard now. Make sure your Representatives know that you stand firmly in support of women’s rights and that attacking women and families is the wrong way to move this country forward.

Please take action now!