The Bush administration is proposing a new regulation that would
discourage doctors and health-care clinics from providing birth control to women who need it. This regulation would require federal health programs to certify that they will hire nurses and other providers
who openly object to abortion or contraception in order to receive federal aid to run their programs.
The regulation could seriously jeopardize state laws and policies that protect women's access to birth control. For example, state laws that require hospitals to provide sexual-assault victims with access to emergency contraception could be jeopardized!
Members of Congress are calling on the Bush administration to change course. Please let your members of Congress know that you strongly oppose this attack on women's health and individual rights.
For more information on the proposal, see http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/washington/15rule.html?_r=1&sq=birthDear [Congressperson]:
I'm writing to express my opposition to proposed new rules that would discourage doctors and health-care clinics from providing contraception to women who need it.
Current federal law already allows doctors and even health-care corporations (hospitals, HMOs, and health plans) to refuse to provide services or make referrals for abortion. The new rule, which deliberately confuses the definitions of contraception and abortion, would cause disarray in law, regulations and policy and make it more difficult for women to obtain birth control.
I know it's an uphill battle, but I support any efforts to try to convince the Bush administration to change course on the regulation.
[Your comments]
