Advocacy
The task force's top legislative priority in the 111th Congress, 1st Session is passage of real health care reform that addresses the needs of women.
A sweet victory in the Senate
The Senate on Dec. 8 voted for a motion to table the Nelson amendment, effectively killing it. It passed by a vote margin of 54-45. To see how your Senator voted, please click here. A "yea" vote on the motion to table is a vote to kill the amendment.The Nelson amendment closely mirrored the dangerous language of the House-passed Stupak-Pitts amendment that would ban abortion coverage in public and private insurance plans that receive federal funds.
Debate on other parts of the bill continue in the Senate, where NCWO affiliate, the National Partnership for Women & Families, points out, "we have a long way yet to go. And this is unlikely to be the last attack we face on reproductive rights!
"The Senate's health reform bill already contains significant compromise language that precludes federal funds from being used for abortion services. Going beyond this compromise would roll back coverage that most women currently have. And we must work hard to not lose any more ground on reproductive rights in this important fight to achieve meaningful health care reform for all Americans."
Following are some additional resources on health care reform and women:
- Raising Women's Voices for the Health Care We Need (many NCWO affiliates are partners)
- Reform Matters Toolkit (National Women's Law Center)
- This column, written by Judith L. Lichtman, former President of the National Partnership for Women & Families and currently Senior Advisor there, provides additional information on the issue: Debunking Myths and Misinformation in the Health Reform Debate.
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NCWO and Affiliates Send Letter to House Members, September 2009
American Heart Month (Feb.) is a great time to actively support the Heart Act
H.R. 1032, amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deny a new drug application if the application fails to include required information on clinical investigations. It was introduced last year by Lois Caps. It now has 163 co-sponsors and has been referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee.
There is a companion bill in the Senate, S. 422, which was introduced by Senator Debbie Stabenow. The bill has 43 bill co-sponsors in that body, where it has been referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
NCWO affiliate, The Society for Women's Health Research, is an active supporter of the HR 1032 and is seeking the support of other organizations.