August 2, 2010

State Legislators Plan Strategy on Reproductive Rights

The Center for Women Policy Studies' new program of Regional Summits for State Legislators begins in November 2010 at the Southwest Summit on Reproductive Rights/Justice and Health in Denver, Colorado. Our Summit co-chairs are Arizona state Senator Linda Lopez (a member of the Center's Board of Directors) and Colorado state Senator Betty Boyd. Legislators from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah will participate. Click here to ask questions or make comments about the Southwest Summit.

TheSouthwest Summit is a direct outcome of the Center's 2009 Strategic Action Convening (SAC): A Framework for Health Care Reform. At the SAC, legislators wrote a letter to Congress insisting that all reproductive health care services must be included among the "essential benefits" in health care legislation [click here to read the letter].

While the final health care reform law passed by Congress fell far short of this principle, theCenter and our national network of state legislatorshave not given up. We redouble our efforts during 2010 and 2011 to ensure thatwomen's full reproductive rights are respected andthat access to comprehensive reproductive health care is guaranteedat all levels of government.

DONATE NOW to support the Center's work on reproductive rights and health.

To begin this national effort, legislators at the Southwest Summit will develop new strategies to respond to the challenges they face in their legislatures as leaders on reproductive rights and health as they confront assaults on women's reproductive rights in their own back yards. In addition to their own strategic planning conversations at the Southwest Summit, legislators also will benefit from consultations with state reproductive rights advocates and experts.

DONATE NOW to support our 2010-2011 Regional Summits for State Legislators.

While we are pleased to note that Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed HB 1021 into law on May 26, 2010 - requiring all individual and group health insurance policies to cover contraception and expenses associated with pregnancy and delivery, we also note that the timing of the Southwest Summit could not be more urgent as these states are on the frontlines of attacks on women's rights. For example:

*Arizona's SB 1304 (signed by Governor Jan Brewer on April 20, 2010) expands abortion reporting requirements to ask each woman "the reason for the abortion", the number of her prior pregnancies and abortions, her marital status and her level of education. The law also includes similar reporting requirements for health care professionals who provide medical services to women in need of care as a result of complications from an abortion or an attempted abortion. A report derived from this data, that does not contain information that would identify any person, will be available on the Department of Health website.

*Colorado's HB 1311 (signed by Governor Bill Ritter on March 10, 2010) upholds Colorado's existing policy against using state funds "to pay or otherwise reimburse, either directly or indirectly, any person, agency or facility for the performance of any induced abortion."

*Utah's HB 462 (signed by Governor Gary Herbert on March 8, 2010) establishes self-induced abortions and any "intentional or knowing act" that results in a miscarriage as a criminal homicide offense.

The other states in the region, including New Mexico and Nevada are not immune from these kinds of attacks - nor are most states in the United States. With YOUR SUPPORT, the Center will continue its work with state legislators nationwide to preserve the protections guaranteed by Roe v. Wade. CLICK HERE to volunteer your support and ideas for future Regional Summits.

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