Unbelievable. We let you know yesterday about an attempt to strip Title X funding for Planned Parenthood from the Appropriations Bill, and now another anti-choice senator is trying to undermine access to birth control. They just won't stop.
In 2007, a legislative error caused the price of birth control to skyrocket by up to 900 percent for low-income women and college students. After two years of hard work by Planned Parenthood and our amazing supporters, we are SO CLOSE to restoring access to affordable birth control. The fix has passed in the House of Representatives, and it's strongly supported by President Obama, but anti-choice senators are making one last effort to prevent access to affordable family planning for those who need it the most.
Sen. DeMint, a known opponent of family planning, has submitted an amendment to remove affordable birth control provisions from the Appropriations Act, claiming that the vital legislation is nothing but an earmark for Planned Parenthood. But the fact is this fix does not provide funding to Planned Parenthood — or anyone else! It would simply fix a mistake in the law that put up a roadblock for pharmaceutical companies that wanted to offer cheaper drugs to health clinics.
The debate is happening today in the Senate. We need you to call your senators right now and tell them to vote "NO" on the DeMint Amendment to strip affordable birth control provisions from the Appropriations Act.
Call the Senate switchboard at 202-224-3121 to contact your senators and let them know: The affordable birth control fix is not an earmark. It's a vital piece of legislation that will expand access to family planning services for thousands of low-income women and college students, and help them prevent unintended pregnancies — at no cost to the federal government or to taxpayers.
In these economic times, government should be supporting commonsense policies that give women the ability to plan their families and their futures. If anti-choice politicians really wanted to reduce the number of abortions, they would support legislation that helps women prevent unintended pregnancies by increasing access to affordable birth control. I don't know about you, but I've had enough of anti-choice politicians hiding their opposition to family planning behind claims of fiscal responsibility. Don't let them get away with it. Please, call your senators now (202-224-3121) and help us pass the affordable birth control fix once and for all.
I know we've been asking a lot of you recently, and I want you to know that your support is making a huge difference in Congress. Thank you for standing with us as we work to secure an important victory for family planning and women across the country. And please, forward this post to your friends and family or repost it in your own blog. It's so important for those of us who support family planning and expanding health care access to speak out, loud and clear.
Thank you again,
Kendall at Planned Parenthood Action Fund
P.S. After you've contacted your senators, check out our video on the importance of affordable birth control, and share your story by posting a video response!