Update: HHS Regulation Officially Proposed

Last Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services officially proposed a rule that could severely undermine women's access to health care services and information. Read the HHS press release here. As anticipated, the proposed regulation purports to interpret three federal laws which allow providers to refuse to perform abortions or sterilizations. With this rule, the Administration goes way beyond the original intent of federal law, and jeopardizes the health and safety of women.

Well, you can't say we didn't see it coming. The Bush Administration has made a habit of pushing it's own ideology and undermining access to health care. This new attempt is a blatant move to do just that.

Secretary Michael Leavitt will tell you that this proposal is "about the legal right of a health care professional to practice according to their conscience." WE know that this regulation would open the door for political agendas to be inserted into emergency rooms and health centers. WE know that it would allow women to be denied access to information and services. And WE know that this regulation disparately impacts low-income, uninsured, and under-insured women who rely on Title X and Medicaid programs for their health services.

Check out the Secretary's blog post in which he tries to justify the rule. This is one of three posts he's written on the topic. Apparently he's received some feedback from some folks (he specifically mentions Planned Parenthood!) who want an explanation. Go figure.

Secretary Leavitt's Blog


Technorati tags: tagname, Planned Parenthood, Dept. of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt

325,000 Voices, One Message: Birth Control is Not Abortion

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund and MoveOn.org Political Action hand delivered more than 325,000 signatures to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael Leavitt on Wednesday in Washington D.C. sending a clear message that birth control is not abortion. Signers of an emergency petition, circulated by both groups, demanded that the Bush administration table its draft regulation change that would redefine abortion to include birth control and severely limit women’s access to basic health care. An administrative regulation change would require no congressional approval.

“The Bush administration's draft regulation change would allow health care providers to withhold critical information from their patients,” said Ellen Golombek, vice president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “This politically motivated regulatory change deliberately confuses contraception — that is, birth control — with abortion, putting political agendas ahead of patients’ needs and jeopardizing American women's access to contraception. Let’s be clear: birth control is not abortion.”

The American Medical Association and the American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians publicly oppose this draft regulation. Fifty-seven medical, public health, religious, advocacy, and research groups, including Planned Parenthood, sent a letter to Secretary Leavitt strongly opposing the draft regulation change. In addition, nearly 150 members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have signed letters urging the Bush administration to reject this draft HHS regulation change.

"For the Bush administration to quietly try to redefine 'abortion' to include birth control, and use that change to threaten laws protecting women and rape survivors, shows how completely out-of-touch Republican leadership has become," said Ilyse Hogue, spokesperson for MoveOn.org Political Action. "Over 325,000 Americans are standing strong to make clear: birth control is NOT abortion."

Read the ABC News article here.

Technorati tags: tagname, MoveOn.org, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, birth control, abortion

Corndogs, Cows, and Condoms

Last Wednesday, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action conducted a Reproductive Justice Day of Action at Governor's Day at the Illinois State Fair. The day began with a morning training for volunteers, where they learned about the Reproductive Justice and Access Act (HB5615). This bill will ensure that every individual has access to a full range of options in making decisions about their reproductive health care. It seeks to reduce unintended pregnancies through comprehensive sex education, expanding access to birth control, and ensuring that the government cannot interfere with an individual's right to have a child or terminate a pregnancy.

That afternoon, the amazing group of staff and volunteers - pictured below and lead by the Planned Parenthood Reproductive Justice Outreach Team - hit the fairgrounds to educate the public about HB 5615 and gather support for it through petition signatures. The group passed out pens, stickers, buttons, and Planned Parenthood condoms to those who signed on, and they got a chance to hear speeches made by a handful of Illinois elected officials including Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, IL Senate President Emil Jones, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin.

There were fried foods galore, adorable newborn calves and piglets and, of course, the infamous Butter Cow! For those of you unfamiliar with this attraction, it is exactly as it sounds - a giant cow made of butter - and a long-standing Illinois State Fair tradition. Check out the picture below of one of our fabulous interns and the Butter Cow!

To learn more about the Reproductive Justice and Access Act and sign a petition in support of the bill, visit this page.

To get involved with Planned Parenthood and become a volunteer, click here.


Technorati tags: tagname, Planned Parenthood, reproductive justice, Illinois State Fair

UPDATE: Teenwire Stays

Well, it's not exactly current news anymore, but for those of you that were paying attention to the recent hullabaloo in Batavia, we'd like to make sure you're aware that the Batavia Library Board decided to keep the link to the award-winning website, teenwire.org. Kudos to all the teenwire supporters for making the case for access to accurate, age-appropriate information for teens!

You may recall that the issue started with a handful of residents who claimed that teenwire.org was inappropriate. The library board made a decision to keep the link, and after an appeal was made by those opposing it, the library board opened up the issue for public comment. Residents of Batavia and folks from surrounding areas came out to voice their opinion.

Luckily, reason prevailed and the site will remain a link on the library's Web Reference page!

Read the full story here.


Technorati tags: tagname, Planned Parenthood, teenwire

Letters to U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services: Proposed Regulation Is All Politics

Yesterday, Slate featured a great piece regarding recent reports that the Bush administration is circulating a draft of a proposed Department of Health and Human Services regulation that, if enacted, would jeopardize women’s health. William Saletan's article, written in the form of a sarcastic letter to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt, exposes the atrociousness of this potential regulation and shows just how dangerous it can be to play politics with women's health. The regulation would allow health care providers to withhold both health care services and the critical information women need to make fully informed decisions about their health care.

As written, the proposed rule would:

- confuse contraception with abortion, putting political agendas ahead of patients’ needs

- allow employees to deny the provision of any health care service that they were hired

perform, including dispensing birth control to women

- take away the guarantee of access to complete information and a full range of health care services that women currently have in federally funded health care entities

In a commendable show of support for women and their families, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan voiced her opinion on the subject by sending her own letter to Secretary Leavitt. Madigan's letter conveyed her "strenuous opposition" to the proposed rule. The conclusion of her letter read as follows:

"As Illinois Attorney General, I am deeply troubled by this ideologically motivated effort to effectively overturn state protections intended to help women access basic health care and make fully-informed, responsible and medically-based health-care decisions. At a time when so many Americans, including millions of Illinois residents, are struggling to obtain and afford health care and millions of women are in need of publicly funded family planning, a regulation that puts ideology and politics over critical healthcare needs is unconscionable and reckless. I strongly urge you to reject this proposed regulation."

Check out the Deborah Douglas article from The Chicago Sun Times for some background information on this issue here.

Technorati tags: tagname, Planned Parenthood, Lisa Madigan, family planning

Planned Parenthood Honors Illinois Champions for Choice

Hundreds of Planned Parenthood staff members from affiliates around the country recently met for the annual Organizing and Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. The three-day conference in July entailed intensive training and planning and provided staff with a unique opportunity to work together and learn from each others experiences in various states. From e-organizers, to CEOs, to Volunteer Coordinators - everyone came together to celebrate past achievements and prepare for future successes in reproductive choice!

At the conference, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America presented the inaugural “Stand Up for Planned Parenthood Hill Staffer of the Year Award” to Cathy Hurwit, chief of staff for Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). Cathy has been involved with health policy for 30 years and has been a key ally, exceptional strategist, and passionate advocate for Planned Parenthood priorities. Check out this photo of Cathy (left) with Pam Sutherland (right), Vice President for Public Policy of Planned Parenthood of IL.

In addition, the Planned Parenthood Republicans for Choice® Senator Barry Goldwater Award was presented to the Honorable Mark Kirk (R-IL) for his ongoing leadership on choice issues. Congressman Kirk (below) has been a true champion on women's health issues and has courageously stood up for women and their families.

Technorati tags: tagname

, Planned Parenthood
, Mark Kirk
, Cathy Hurwit