On Wednesday, Dec. 2, AAUW and coalition partners joined forces for a National Day of Action to protest the Stupak amendment, anti-choice legislation that would jeopardize women's access to complete and safe reproductive health care coverage. AAUW members lobbied Congress and rallied on Capitol Hill, as well as participated in activities in local communities across the country, to protect women's reproductive rights as negotiations over health care coverage move forward.
AAUW is part of the Stop Stupak Coalition, a broad group of advocacy organizations working for final passage of a health care reform bill that provides comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion.
Take Action!
We still need your help to Stop Stupak! Tell Congress that health care reform should not come at the cost of women's reproductive health.
- Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senators' offices. Urge them to oppose any amendments that jeopardize women's access to complete reproductive health care coverage. You can find talking points here. Then, contact your representative about his or her vote on the Stupak amendment.
- Spread the word! Update your Facebook status to encourage friends to call too, and use our Stop Stupak twibbon and the hashtag #StopStupak on Twitter.
The Stupak amendment, which greatly limits women's access to reproductive health care and was included in the House-passed health reform bill, is the biggest attempt to effectively ban abortion services in years. Similar amendments are already in the works in the Senate. Now is the time to make your voice heard to ensure that language like the Stupak amendment is not included in the Senate bill or the final conference bill.
While federal law currently bans the use of federal funds to cover abortion services, the Stupak amendment would effectively force private insurance companies to eliminate abortion coverage for all members, instituting what amounts to a domestic gag rule. Millions of women, including those in private plans, would lose the coverage they currently have.
AAUW has long believed that politicians should not insert themselves into the decision-making process when it comes to reproductive health care, which is a basic element of women's overall health care. Read more about AAUW's position on health care reform and reproductive rights.
