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Delivering a Message (Actually, Hundreds of Thousands of Messages) 老澳门开奖结果 Birth Control to the Trump Administration

Rep Judy Chu (D-Calif.) speaks at the petition delivery
Rep Judy Chu (D-Calif.) speaks at the petition delivery
Georgeanne M. Usova,
Former Senior Legislative Counsel
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December 7, 2017

Back in October, the Trump administration issued two rules that allow virtually any employer or university to deny its employees or students contraceptive coverage based on a religious or moral objection. Although the rules took effect immediately, a comment period gave the public an opportunity to weigh in. By the time that period closed on Tuesday, people across the country had flooded the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with written comments opposing the Trump rules.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act鈥檚 women鈥檚 preventive services requirement, 62 million women now have coverage of vital health care services, including all FDA-approved contraceptive methods and related education and counseling without out-of-pocket costs. So it鈥檚 no wonder that the new rules, which undermine that coverage, are incredibly unpopular.

Commenters were loud and clear: They said that birth control is basic health care, and that access to birth control is essential to women鈥檚 equality, autonomy, and economic security. They talked about what birth control has meant for their lives. For some, the ability to decide whether and when to start a family enabled them to pursue education and career goals. For others, contraception allowed them to manage and treat medical conditions that affected their quality of life.

Rep Schakowsky(D-Ill.) addresses the crowd

One thing that everyone agreed on? No one should have to consult their boss about it. A woman鈥檚 decision to use birth control, and to use the method that is best for her, is one that she should make with her health care provider. Neither a woman鈥檚 boss, nor the Trump Administration, should get to interfere. Allowing employers and universities to use their religious beliefs to block employees鈥 birth control coverage 鈥 coverage that is required by law 鈥 isn鈥檛 religious liberty. It's discrimination.

This week, 老澳门开奖结果 joined with partners and members of Congress to deliver more than half a million of these comments to HHS, including tens of thousands from 老澳门开奖结果 supporters and members. As we wrote in our comments, the rules violate the Constitution and other federal laws by allowing employers and universities to use their religious beliefs to harm women, and by denying women a benefit that was intended by Congress to address longstanding gender discrimination in health care. If the Trump administration refuses to rescind the rules, we鈥檒l continue to fight them in court alongside and several other .

The administration seems determined to set women back 鈥 we鈥檝e seen after on this year, with many carried out under the guise of religious liberty. But as this week鈥檚 outpouring of comments made clear, women are showing that they won鈥檛 let this happen without a fight.

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