The Fight Is Not Over.
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The Women’s Media Center applauds the many important victories for women and our families in the landmark health care reform legislation including the elimination of gender as a pre-existing condition and the extension of insurance coverage to include birth control. Though historic, the passage of the bill is also bittersweet. We cannot ignore the fact this bill was passed only after a pro choice President appeased a gang of anti-choice legislators by agreeing to sign an Executive Order restating the Hyde Amendment – a longstanding and shameful provision which bars low-income women from accessing reproductive health care.
Bart Stupak caved and ultimately failed. This is a victory for the health care of American women, but only a partial one. The executive order may or may not expand the Hyde Amendment’s already devastating impact; only time will tell. What we do know is that the health care bill includes the Nelson amendment which imposes significant restrictions on access to reproductive health care. Until women’s perspectives, positions, and priorities are fully incorporated into our nation’s policies, ego-tripping representatives out for their fifteen minutes of fame will again and again attempt to use our reproductive rights to highjack legislation. Now is the time to channel our outrage into action by working to permanently defeat Hyde and purge the ranks of elected officials who would compromise the lives of women for political gain. In the post-vote analysis, much will be said on how women respond to our reproductive rights being used as a bargaining chip to guarantee passage of the bill. Stay tuned to the Women’s Media Center. Here are a few must-read statements on behalf of women:
NotUndertheBus.com, a program of the Women’s Media Center, stands up for women’s freedom to choose. Abortion is health care and women should not have to compromise their reproductive rights in the name of safe, fair and comprehensive health care. Not Under the Bus could not be making an impact without you. During the Superbowl, more than 220,000 letters were sent through WMC to CBS, NFL, and Superbowl advertisers. On Jan. 13, the Take Action Day for health care reform, more than 700,000 people responded, which included more than 500 people that signed our petition, and commentary in over 30 blogs.
Not Under the Bus plans to continue to fight against sexism, against discriminatory health care policies and against biased media coverage that promotes an anti-woman agenda. Please support our work by donating to the Women’s Media Center and subscribing to email updates.
The Choice is Yours.
Our Health Care is Central to the Health of America. It Is Not For Sale!
We are the megaphone for the numerous campaigns to stop the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, the most draconian restriction on women since the 1977 Hyde Amendment that cut federal funding for abortions by Medicaid. Check out the Wall page now to see how your efforts defeated the Senate version of the Stupak Amendment — but the work has just begun.
NotUndertheBus.com, a project of The Women’s Media Center, calls on all women and men who support women’s equality to take the initiative and start driving the bus right down Pennsylvania Avenue. Get your voices heard! We must pass health reform that makes women’s health care fair, safe and covered for all.
The Opposition is Not Resting and We Should NOT Rest Either!
Opponents to efforts to keep women’s health care reform fair, safe and covered are out in full force to discredit the message and to persuade the public to oppose health care reform — while throwing women under the bus. The media are scrambling to cover and uncover the news. Now, more than ever, we need to be vigilant and craft our media message to get the facts out. We need to add our voices and remind the public of the character and motivations of those who oppose fair and safe health care coverage for women.
