Some Valentine’s Day present. This week, Senator Roy Blunt is introducing a radical amendment that would not only roll back birth control access but potentially women’s health and rights over 50 years. Act NOW – Congress is set to vote on this today!
At the urging of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, opponents to birth control access in the House and the Senate are introducing amendments that give employers or insurance companies the power to deny any essential or preventive health service because of religious or “moral” conviction. Unless we act now, this could put the entire women’s preventive care package of the Affordable Care Act in jeopardy.
Last Friday, President Obama announced that regulations requiring all insurance plans to include birth control coverage without co-pay or deductible will be implemented so that if religiously affiliated institutions elect not to pay the premium, the insurance companies will pick up the cost. This removes any conflict for religiously affiliated organizations spending their money on contraception, while still supplying the same coverage for women and maintaining an exemption for houses of worship such as churches, synagogues, mosques & temples.
But as far as we can tell, opponents in the House and the Senate won’t back down from their attacks on women’s health care and the Affordable Care Act. This week is critical for action.
So this V-Day, raise your voices and take action.
Action #1: Twitter bomb congress with #BC4US Valentines.
Step 1: Print out the #bc4us Valentines (or make your own!)
<3 Hands Off My Birth Control
<3 Congress Listen Up or We’re Breaking Up
<3 Forget Me Not
Step 2: Take a Picture of You holding the Valentine
Step 3: Post them on FMLA’s Facebook Page or email them to campusteam@feminist.org
Step 4: Take a picture of at least 20 friends holding valentines and post them too
Step 5: Starting on Tuesday, tweet these pictures @SpeakerBoehner and your Senators — and make sure to include @feministcampus & #bc4us!
Action #2: Collect petition signatures urging Congress not to undermine women’s access to basic health care.
Step 1: Sign & share this online letter to your Representatives
Step 2: Print this petition
Step 3: Collect signatures while tabling, giving out condoms, dorm storming… everywhere!
Step 4: Either email or mail the signatures to us directly at 1600 Wilson Blvd, Suite 801, Rosslyn, VA 22209 or deliver them to your Senator’s local office
Action #3: Sign on to the letter from youth activist groups urging national leaders to support birth control coverage without co-pay or deductible.
Step 1: Read the letter from youth groups across the country
Step 2: Email mshalvoy@feminist.org to sign on by February 26 (deadline has been extended)!!
We would love to help you spring into action this week, so please don’t hesitate to contact the Feminist Campus Team.
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1400/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=9503
Hey GOP,
Here is some easy math:
Easy access to birth control = fewer unwanted pregnancies = fewer abortions.
Think about it, it’s a no brainer.
Barbara
I am insulted, appalled and want Congress to keep out of women’s lives. I used contraceptives and it is not of anyone’s business what women choose. The Catholic Church has to wake up and realize that 98% of Catholic women have used contraceptives.
Congress, the Church and anyone else that speaks out against this should be paying attention to bettering education, health care for all, the economy, seniors and many other important issues facing our country. I urge you, leave women alone and let them make the decision!!
Notice to Congress
Do not pass this bill which limits women’s access to birth control of any kind. Women should be allowed to be responsible for their own bodies, and that should include women of all ages and income levels. The religious views against this should apply only to people who hold those views, not to anyone else.
Ann Schonberger
Stop the misogynists who want to kill women.THe Catholic church’s history is to destroy women.It is a homosexual
church,who love little boys.
PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK ACCESS TO WOMEN,S HEALTH.
NO MAN has the right to control a woman or women! I don’t care if you are a husband, a priest or a CONGRESS MAN.
AS A 71 YEAR OLD WOMAN WITH TWO GROWN INTELLIGENT DAUGHTERS, THOSE MEN IN CONGRESS WHO SAT IN A PANNEL TO EVEN THINK ABOUT MAKING DISCISSIONS FOR WOMEN ARE NO BETTER THAN A BUNCH OF BULLIES WHOSE EGOS OUTSIZE THEIR BRAINSL.