PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS REJECTED EFFORTS TO CUT OFF ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL FOR MILLIONS OF WOMEN.
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Dear Cindi,
This is why your voice matters.
Today, President Obama rejected efforts by anti-women’s health groups and their allies in Congress to cut off access to birth control for millions of women simply because they work at religiously affiliated hospitals or attend religiously affiliated universities. The Obama administration announced that these women and their families will have access to the new benefit that requires health insurance plans to cover birth control with no co-pays.
This decision was never a sure thing. For months, anti-women’s health groups and their congressional allies lobbied hard to undermine this important benefit. But after over 100,000 Planned Parenthood supporters spoke out, President Obama stood strong with you to protect women’s health.
Planned Parenthood health centers around the country are writing thank-you cards to President Obama.
The massive outpouring of support for access to birth control we saw over the past few weeks was powerful, it was passionate, and it drowned out the
opposition. You and I know that birth control is essential preventive health care. We know that expanding access is one of the most effective ways to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies in America and keep women and their families healthy. We know this is the right thing to do.
And because of this amazing show of support, women’s access to essential care, including birth control, will be protected. I am proud and deeply grateful to know the role Planned Parenthood supporters played in securing this important victory.
I also know that we can’t protect women’s access to care alone. We need lawmakers and leaders to stand with us when it matters — and that’s what
President Obama did today.
We always knew that the fight for women’s health under health care reform would be a long battle. As each piece of the reform law takes effect, including this latest right, our opponents get more and more desperate. This decision from President Obama makes clear that you and I can make a real difference when we stand up.
I’m so glad to be able to share this good news with you today. Thank you, once again, for everything you do for Planned Parenthood and the women, men, and teens who rely on us to protect their access to health care.
Sincerely,
Cecile Richards, President
Planned Parenthood Federation of America