Anti-choice Members of Congress Will Face Questions on Why They Continue to Oppose Birth Control

As Congress prepares for the Memorial Day break, members who continue to bow to anti-birth-control pressure groups will have to answer to voters on why they refuse to consider commonsense measures to prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the need for abortion.  

In just the last month, anti-choice members in the House and Senate have attacked women's access to contraception and blocked votes on legislation that would actually make abortion less necessary.  Most Americans want progress – not politics – on this issue.  Unfortunately, it appears that the anti-choice movement is in the driver's seat when it comes to congressional action on prevention policies. As Rick Scarborough, leader of the right-wing group Vision America told Roll Call, "we're going to hold these Congressmen accountable ... if you're not going to give us what we ask for, we're not going to give you our vote." [Roll Call, March 27, 2006]

Anti-Choice Legislators Block Funding for Birth Control
Just yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee voted to block $34 million in family-planning services, the latest example of far-right politicians attacking birth control. 

This vote reflected the latest cave-in to President Bush – who for the last four years has arbitrarily withheld funding which Congress appropriated to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).  UNFPA provides family-planning services, prenatal care, and other primary health services in developing countries.  Anti-choice legislators voted against forcing President Bush to release next year's appropriated funds. 

Anti-Choice Legislators Push Bill Threatening Insurance Coverage of Birth Control
Earlier this month, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) pushed legislation on the Senate floor that would, among other things, nullify state laws that ensure insurance plans cover birth control in the same way they pay for Viagra and other prescription medications. If the Senate passed the bill, 25 states could have denied laws that protect women's access to birth control.

Anti-Choice Leaders Block Vote on Legislation to Ensure Emergency Contraception is Available for Military Women
Earlier this month, anti-choice House leaders wouldn't even allow a vote on whether military women should have better access to pregnancy-prevention services.

When considering the Defense authorization bill, Reps. Mike Michaud (D-ME) and Tim Ryan (D-OH), both of whom oppose legal abortion, asked to offer an amendment to ensure that emergency contraception - also known as the "morning-after" pill - is made available to military women overseas. This is especially timely as military officials recently announced that there were 2,374 reported cases of sexual assault among service members last year – a 40-percent increase from 2004.  

Anti-choice House leaders refused even to allow debate on this subject.

"War on Contraception"
Anti-choice groups are becoming even more vocal about their opposition to birth control.  Divisive attacks against a woman's right to choose, including the South Dakota abortion ban, have exposed their true agenda to overturn Roe v. Wade.  However, as a recent piece in The New York Times Magazine documented, these same groups and their political allies aren't just focused on abortion.  They want to ban birth control, too.

According to Judie Brown, president of the American Life League:  ''We see a direct connection between the practice of contraception and the practice of abortion.  The mind-set that invites a couple to use contraception is an antichild mind-set."  Brown continued, "We oppose all forms of contraception." ["Contra-Contraception," The New York Times Magazine, May 7, 2006]

Concerned Women for America and the National Right to Life Committee continue to refuse to take a position on birth control—yet 98 percent of American women use some form of contraception during their reproductive lives.  Even voters who self-identify as "pro-life" see opposition to birth control as far out of the mainstream. But this anti-choice Congress refuses to consider common-ground measures – including eight bipartisan prevention-related bills that members of Congress and NARAL Pro-Choice America have challenged Senator Frist and Speaker Hastert to bring to the floor for votes.    

Thoughtful Lawmakers Responding to Attacks on Birth Control
NARAL Pro-Choice America called on President Bush and the right-to-life community over a year ago to seek common ground on ways to prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the need for abortion.  While Bush and his anti-choice allies continue to attack birth control, federal and state lawmakers who are sincerely interested in finding common ground are stepping forward.

For instance, in response to Sen. Enzi's bill to strip away insurance coverage of birth control, Sens. Harry Reid (D-NV), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced an amendment to protect access to contraception in this country.

In Ohio, state legislators, with support from NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, recently introduced a proposal to increase access to contraception and require accurate, comprehensive sex education.  State Sen. Marc Dann said, "The bills put abortion rights advocates back on the offensive, they're offering a practical and affordable solution to decrease unwanted pregnancies…We hold the moral high ground in this debate."  [Associated Press, May 15, 2006]

And last month, at a rally in Michigan, pro-choice activists joined Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, and MARAL Pro-Choice Michigan in support of commonsense measures to prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the need for abortion – as a sensible alternative to yet more divisive attacks on reproductive health.  As a Detroit News columnist wrote, "Pro-choice leaders like Keenan, who is at once forthright and politically savvy, are honing a message about American values of personal responsibility, freedom and privacy. It's a new stance and a realistic one." [Laura Berman, Detroit News, April 25, 2006]

Contact:
Ted Miller, 202.973.3032