Protect Women's Health Care Access

A message from MoveOn.org:
Women voters outnumber men by millions.¹ Maybe Republicans should have thought of that before launching "the most comprehensive and radical assault on women's health in our lifetime," according to House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi.²

Republicans are challenging President Obama's plan to provide free contraception coverage to women through their health insurance.³ And on Friday, House Republicans passed another bill stripping all federal funding from Planned Parenthood, which would block access to vital breast and cervical cancer screenings.⁴ Their actions will cost the lives of countless women if we don't stop them.

We've proved we can do just that, by working with progressive allies to prevent devastating funding cuts to Planned Parenthood in the past.⁵ But with Republicans clearly turning women's health into a social wedge issue this election, we need to tell the millions of women voters just what's at stake—their health, their lives, and their choice—with a multi-part campaign in partnership with our friends at Ultraviolet.

Our creative team is ready to shoot a hard-hitting TV ad to kick off the campaign, but we need to have the funding ready to go. Can you help raise $175,000 to stop the GOP's war on women's health?

Yes, I'll chip in $5.

Republican attacks on women's health are almost too many to mention, but here are some of the lowlights:

• 'Let Women Die' Bill. House Republicans passed a bill that would allow hospitals that receive federal funds to deny patients access to abortion procedures, even if such a procedure is necessary to save a woman's life.⁶ 
  
• Contraception. Just last week, Republican Congressman Darrell Issa chaired a hearing on President Obama's plan to provide contraception coverage to women, but blocked all testimony from women's health advocates.⁷
• Redefining Rape. In a bill to prevent taxpayer funding for abortions, House Republicans tried to redefine rape as "forcible rape" only, which would exclude statutory rape and women who are drugged or verbally threatened.⁸
• Forced Ultrasound. Republicans in the Virginia legislature have just passed a bill requiring women to have an invasive vaginal probe ultrasound before they're permitted to have an abortion.⁹ 

These attacks won't stop until those who lead them are made to pay a political price. If we tell women about the GOP's war on women's health, we can make Republicans pay that price. Can you contribute $5 to fight back against the GOP's war on women's health?

http://pol.moveon.org/donate/waronwomen.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=36071-18623853-%3DxysoYx&t=3

Thanks for all you do.

–Elena, Amy, Laura, Carrie, and the rest of the team

P.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has announced that the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee will convene to hear from one woman whose testimony was blocked by Congressman Issa, but Republican Dan Lundgren is refusing to allow her testimony to be recorded for public view.¹⁰ Click here to donate $5 and help make women's voices heard on women's health.

Sources:

1. "Gender Differences in Voter Turnout," Center for American Women and Politics, November 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271386&id=36071-18623853-%3DxysoYx&t=5

2. "Pelosi: GOP Offers The 'Most Comprehensive And Radical Assault On Women's Health In Our Lifetime,'" Think Progress, February 10, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271387&id=36071-18623853-%3DxysoYx&t=6

3. "Republicans to Continue Effort to Block Obama Contraceptive Rule," Bloomberg Businessweek, February 14, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271412&id=36071-18623853-%3DxysoYx&t=7

4. "Planned Parenthood Funding Blocked In House Vote," Huffington Post, February 18, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271388&id=36071-18623853-%3DxysoYx&t=8

"The GOP's 10 Most Extreme Attacks On A Woman's Right To Choose An Abortion" Think Progress, December 27, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271220&id=36071-18623853-%3DxysoYx&t=9

5. "Komen decision illustrates political battle over Planned Parenthood," NBC Politics, February 3, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271389&id=36071-18623853-%3DxysoYx&t=10

6. "House GOP Proposes So-Called 'Let Women Die' Bill That Lets Hospitals Deny Life-Saving Care," Think Progress, October 12, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271390&id=36071-18623853-%3DxysoYx&t=11

"The GOP's 10 Most Extreme Attacks On A Woman's Right To Choose An Abortion" Think Progress, December 27, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271220&id=36071-18623853-%3DxysoYx&t=12

7. "Rep. Darrell Issa Bars Minority Witness, a Woman, on Contraception," ABC News, February 16, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271406&id=36071-18623853-%3DxysoYx&t=13

8. "Legislative proposal puts abortion rights supporters on alert," The Washington Post, February 1, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271391&id=36071-18623853-%3DxysoYx&t=14

9. "Anti-abortion bills spark heated debate in Virgina," CBS News, February 15, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271410&id=36071-18623853-%3DxysoYx&t=15

10. "House Democrats To Hear Birth Control Testimony From Woman Rejected By GOP," The Huffington Post, February 21, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271407&id=36071-18623853-%3DxysoYx&t=16 

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