Take action for women's health

The Bush Administration is about to release a rule that would take federal funding that is designated for women's reproductive health and to prevent unwanted pregnancies to be used for anything but those services.

From Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“Planned Parenthood is gravely concerned that the Bush administration is days away from an attack on women’s health care that would limit the rights of patients to receive complete and accurate health information and services. At a time when more and more families are uninsured and under economic assault, we find our health care system is in crisis and our president taking steps to deny access to basic care.

“This proposed rule will put women’s access to birth control and the information they need to make health care decisions at risk. The proposed rule will radically redefine abortion to include some of the most common and effective methods of birth control. As a result, women’s ability to manage their own health care is at risk of being compromised by politics and ideology.

“As one of the leading women's health care providers and advocates, Planned Parenthood will not stand by and watch the Bush administration deny quality, affordable health care and accurate information to millions of women.”

The rule would take funding that would normally go to health centers like Planned Parenthood that offer annual exams, HIV testing, and more and instead give it to "crisis centers" that are not health centers. Their purpose is to do free pregnancy tests and encourage women to not have an abortion. This could mean thousands - or more - women without access to necessary annual exams and other testing.

But it gets even worse. Under this rule, clinics like Planned Parenthood could not refuse to hire nurses who object to abortion and various types of birth control. So, basically they would not be able to refuse to hire people who disagree with the work the clinic is doing.

Take action today to stop this rule from taking effect. As someone who used Planned Parenthood for my annual exam and birth control when I first got married, I know how important their services are. Millions of women across this country each year get their annual exams (which check for various kinds of medical issues, like cancer) as well as birth control pills and condoms to help prevent pregnancy and disease. Without these services, these women could have major medical issues that go unnoticed and would have an increased need for abortion.

Join with me in opposing this rule.