Center for Reproductive Rights Joined by 50 Groups to Oppose Bush's Latest Attack on Reproductive Freedom
Proposed HHS Regulation Doesn't Protect Healthcare Providers, It Jeopardizes Women's Health
September 2008--On September 24, the Center for Reproductive Rights, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and National Asian Pacific Women's Forum (NAPAWF) submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opposing a dangerous new regulation that could severely limit a woman's ability to get the full range of reproductive healthcare services, such as contraception and even basic information she needs to make decisions about her own health. Low-income women and women of color who rely more on public programs will ultimately be hit the hardest by this regulation.
The Center, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and NAPAWF believe that the proposed rules should be rejected outright, and our joint comments focus primarily on the impact on low-income women and women of color. Fifty reproductive health, legal and human rights organizations and foundations joined our efforts, signing on to the letter.
Click here to read the letter > >
Click here to see the list of fifty organizations that signed on > >
What's Wrong with the Proposed HHS Rules in a Nutshell
HHS has proposed regulations which claim to strengthen and enforce current "conscience" laws. But the truth is -- the proposed rules would further limit a woman's ability to get health services and increase the number of healthcare providers and institutions allowed to refuse to provide abortions, sterilizations, and medical training in abortions, based on religious or moral beliefs.
In July, HHS began circulating draft regulations which defined abortion to include many of the most common forms of contraception. Under these proposed rules, healthcare institutions would be allowed to refuse a woman the Pill or even an IUD based on moral or religious objections. After considerable public backlash though, HHS removed this sweeping definition of abortion. But now -- the door has been opened for healthcare providers to define abortion for themselves, including defining it to include contraception. Before the department raised this issue, no healthcare provider would have considered refusing a woman contraceptives on the grounds that it's the same as performing an abortion.
And if that wasn't enough, the regulations would also allow a larger group of individual healthcare professionals—like a receptionist or a health insurance claims officer—to deny a woman basic information and referrals for all healthcare, including reproductive care.
Click here to read an official evaluation of HHS' incomplete and cursory cost-benefit analysis of the proposed regulations > >
Organizations Joining in the Fight to Oppose Dangerous HHS Regulation
Atlanta Pro Choice Action Committee
Boalt Hall Committee for Human Rights
California Black Women's Health Project
Cedar River Clinics - Renton, Tacoma, Yakima in Washington State
Center for Women Policy Studies
Center for American Progress Action Fund
Civil Liberties and Public Policy Program at Hampshire College
Choice USA
Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR)
DC Abortion Fund
Florida Legal Services
Human Rights Watch
IBIS Reproductive Health
IPAS, USA
Law Students for Reproductive Justice
Boston University Law Students for Reproductive Justice
Law Students for Reproductive Justice at University of California, Berkeley
Cardozo Law Students for Reproductive Justice
George Washington University Law Students for Reproductive Justice
Law Students for Reproductive Justice at Hamline University School of Law
Harvard Law Students for Reproductive Justice
Law Students for Reproductive Justice at Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington
University of Iowa Law Students for Reproductive Justice
University of Minnesota Law School Law Students for Reproductive Justice
University of Maryland Law Students for Reproductive Justice
Rutgers - Newark Law Students for Reproductive Justice
Seattle University Law Students for Reproductive Justice
Law Students for Reproductive Justice at William Mitchell College of Law
Mary Wohlford Foundation
NARAL Pro-Choice - Maryland
National Advocates for Pregnant Women
National Council of Jewish Women
National Health Law Program
National Institute for Reproductive Health
National Network of Abortion Funds
National Women's Health Network
National Women's Law Center
New Voices Pittsburgh Women of Color for Reproductive Justice, Birth Circle
Phoenix Take Back the Night
Political Research Associates
Pro-Choice Public Education Project
Reproductive Health Access Project
Reproductive Health Technologies Project
SisterSong
Sisters of Color United for Education/Hermanas de Color Unidas para la Educación
Texas Equal Access Fund
The Women's Health and Education Fund
Third Wave Foundation
Washington State National Organization for Women
WV FREE (West Virginia Focus: Reproductive Education and Equality)
The Center for Reproductive Rights promotes and ensures reproductive rights for all individuals worldwide through our legislative and policy efforts in Washington, D.C. We inform and lobby Congress and the Administration on international and domestic policy issues that affect the Center for Reproductive Rights' mission. Other priority issues include:
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