Results tagged “Senate” from Blog for Choice

Tomorrow, April 30, voters will head to the polls to vote in the Democratic primary in a special election for Secretary of State John Kerry's former Senate seat.

It's essential that we elect leaders that will protect and expand our reproductive freedoms, not work to take them away. That's why we've pulled out all the stops to help elect Rep. Ed Markey and keep this Massachusetts Senate seat pro-choice.

NARAL Pro-Choice America staff and volunteers have been working day and night over the last few weeks, knocking on more than 2,000 doors and making thousands of phone calls to educate Massachusetts voters about why Rep. Ed Markey is the only candidate they can trust with their freedom and privacy.

Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, was in Massachusetts on Sunday speaking with students of Wellesley and at two rallies with Rep. Markey.

We're seeing evidence of the power of choice in this election. A lot of the voters we spoke with didn't know the primary was just around the corner. Others told our canvassers that they're pro-choice and didn't know that Rep. Stephen Lynch had voted anti-choice so frequently.

For example, there's the story of Jennifer in Newton. Jennifer was definitely planning on voting on Tuesday but wasn't aware that Markey is the only fully pro-choice candidate in the race. After learning this news, she changed her decision on the spot and became a Markey voter.

Voters in Massachusetts want a leader who will fight for their reproductive freedom and privacy. Tomorrow, they'll vote for the pro-choice candidate who will do just that, and that person is pro-choice Rep. Ed Markey.

This year's elections proved that Americans won't tolerate politicians who turn their back on rape survivors. No matter where you stand on the issue of legal abortion, it's just wrong to deny a woman who endured sexual violence access to reproductive-health care.

Under current law, military women are banned from using their military health-insurance plans to cover abortion care if they become pregnant as a result of sexual assault.

Today, the U.S. Senate took a big step toward finally paying military women the respect they deserve by adopting the language known as the Shaheen amendment in the FY '13 Department of Defense (DoD) authorization bill to lift this discriminatory policy.

Last week, President Obama marked his administration's support for lifting this ban.

Our own Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, applauded the Senate,

"Today, women in the military have come one step closer to winning protections they deserve for reproductive freedom and privacy. Denying our heroes access to complete reproductive-health care coverage not only discriminates against them but also endangers their health. Congress has an opportunity to protect and support those who selflessly serve our country. Now it's up to John Boehner to step up to this task."

But nobody has worked harder for military women than the author and namesake of the language, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D- N.H.).

Sen. Shaheen has been leading the charge to correct the current policy, which places an undue burden on the servicewomen who dedicate their lives to serving our country.

We thank Sen. Shaheen for her tireless work to end this unjust policy, and we're thrilled that the Senate stood with military women.

Now, the U.S. House of Representatives has the opportunity to end this cruel policy when they work with the Senate to approve the final version of the DoD authorization bill.

We need your help - send a strong message to Speaker John Boehner and anti-choice members of the House: We owe it to our military women to provide them with the health care they need in the tragic circumstance of sexual assault.

When you head to the polls on November 6, don't forget the importance of the U.S. Senate elections!

In Wisconsin, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC-endorsed Tammy Baldwin is currently in a tight race against anti-choice Tommy Thompson.

Rep. Baldwin has been an unwavering advocate for women's freedom and privacy.

She voted twice against the proposal to block Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal funds, which would have denied millions of Americans access to contraception, cancer screenings, and other basic medical care.

Tammy voted against H.R.3, a bill that could essentially eliminate insurance coverage of abortion in the new health-care system.

She also voted against the "Let Women Die Bill," which would have allowed hospitals to refuse to provide emergency abortion services to women who could die without it. You can watch her voice her opposition to this bill on the House floor.

Her opponent, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, has a long anti-choice voting record. He's been endorsed by numerous anti-choice groups including Susan B. Anthony List and Wisconsin Right to Life.

During a debate in 2007, Thompson agreed that the day Roe v. Wade was overturned would be "a good day for America."

As President Bush's secretary of Health and Human Services, Thompson moved to amend the Children's Health Insurance Program to include fetuses and embryos - but not pregnant women; suspended the Clinton administration's plans to move forward with life-saving stem-cell research; and promoted risky and deceptive "abstinence-only" programs.

Tommy Thompson's anti-choice views are completely out of touch with Wisconsin women.

If you have friends or family in "the Badger State," make sure they vote for pro-choice Tammy Baldwin for Senate on November 6!

Paid for by NARAL Pro-Choice America, www.ProChoiceAmerica.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

The Senate race in Ohio could not be more important for choice.

The incumbent, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), is pro-choice and is endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC. He is being challenged by anti-choice state Treasurer Josh Mandel.

Sen. Brown and Josh Mandel debated for the very first time this week, and their positions on abortion were raised several times.

Sen. Brown effectively pointed out Mandel's true position:

"Mandel is even more extreme than Romney on abortion, and does not support exceptions for rape or incest victims."

Mandel even threatened the overturn of Roe v. Wade:

"I will take seriously my role to appoint Supreme Court Justices, and will only approve of ones that are pro-life."

Mandel is endorsed by some of the most extreme anti-choice groups, including Ohio Right to Life PAC and the National Right to Life PAC. His anti-choice agenda is completely out of touch with Ohio women and their families.

This is why we couldn't be more proud to support pro-choice champion Sen. Sherrod Brown in his campaign for re-election.

This spring, Sen. Brown voted against the Blunt amendment, which would have allowed any boss to block their employees from getting insurance coverage of birth control. And he stood up to an attempt to defund Planned Parenthood. He also voted against a bill that would have cut funding for contraception and cancer screenings for low-income women.

In the recent debate, Sen. Brown stood up for all women in Ohio when he said:

"I trust Ohio Women to make their own health care decisions."

The U.S. Senate is critical in the fight to protect the right to choose, and we must protect every senator who fights for women's health and privacy. Right now, there are only 40 reliably pro-choice votes in that chamber. It takes 41 to block bad legislation.

That's why we must send Sen. Brown back to Washington for the next six years. If you have friends or family in Ohio, urge them to vote for a true champion for women's health and privacy, Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Paid for by NARAL Pro-Choice America, www.ProChoiceAmerica.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Do you live in Pennsylvania? Then you must be planning on voting pro-choice in your state's congressional primaries next Tuesday, April 24.

Well, we've got your one-stop shop to find out where all the candidates stand on a woman's right to choose!

It's the NARAL Pro-Choice America primary voter guide.

You can get the scoop on all the candidates--Republican and Democratic--for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. You can find out which candidates received an endorsement from NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC, and learn important information about how and where to vote.

Our primary voter guide makes it easy to vote pro-choice down the line!

Don't live in Pennsylvania? Don't worry. We'll be updating our voter guide as each state holds its primaries.

The voter guide makes it easy to vote pro-choice in every race, in every state.

Paid for by NARAL Pro-Choice America, www.ProChoiceAmerica.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are on recess for the next two weeks.

That means your lawmakers are back in their states and/or districts and ready to hear from you!

If your lawmaker has been standing up against the War on Women, congratulations! Thank him or her for standing up for women's health.

But what about those politicians who have spent their time in Washington launching attacks on women's freedom and privacy?

Here are some questions you can ask them:

1. Should bosses and corporations be allowed to deny their employees insurance coverage of birth control?
2. Should politicians who don't have medical licenses get to overrule the medical decisions women make with their doctors?
3. Presidential candidates like Mitt Romney want to defund family-planning programs and clinics, including Planned Parenthood. Do you?

A lot of politicians in Washington have been saying yes to all three questions. Now, it's time to hold them accountable!

If you see that your member of Congress is holding a public event and he or she has been part of the War on Women, show up and ask one of our questions.

Then let us know how it went by emailing Field@ProChoiceAmerica.org.

Paid for by NARAL Pro-Choice America, www.ProChoiceAmerica.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Sometimes, it takes a non-news news show to illustrate how serious something really is.

Case in point: tomorrow, the Senate is poised to vote on a measure that would allow any boss to deny his employees coverage of birth control.

Even though 99 percent of American women (including 98 percent of Catholic women) use birth control at some point in their lives, some politicians think women should have to ask their bosses' permission to access basic health care like contraception.

Jon Stewart of "The Daily Show" explores just what it means when bosses get veto power over their employees' health-care coverage:

Does this look as insane to you as it does to us?

Then tell your lawmakers to stand strong against any attacks on birth control!

Earlier today, President Obama reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that all women can get contraceptive coverage without a copay.

Members of Congress praised the president's policy to make sure that women get seamless coverage of birth control through their health plans.

Here are some of the elected officials who tweeted or posted their praise for the policy online:

Sen. Barbara Boxer of California
Rep. Lois Capps of California
Rep. Judy Chu of California
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York
Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey
Sen. Pat Leahy of Vermont
Rep. Barbara Lee of California
Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri
Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland
Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin
Sen. Patty Murray of Washington
Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California
Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada
Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire

Thanks to them for standing up for the 99 percent of American women (including 98 percent of Catholic women) who use birth control at some point in their lives!

On Sunday, hundreds of pro-choice bloggers and activists took to the Internet to share the ways in which they planned to help elect pro-choice champions this year.

This morning, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC took one key step toward making 2012 a year of pro-choice victories at the polls.

NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC is proud to endorse 20 of the greatest champions of choice in the U.S. House of Representatives.

From California:

Rep. Lois Capps 

Rep. Judy Chu 

Rep. Barbara Lee 

Rep. Nancy Pelosi 

Rep. Jackie Speier 

Rep. Henry Waxman

From Colorado:

Rep. Diana DeGette

From Connecticut:

Rep. Rosa DeLauro

From Florida:

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

From Illinois:

Rep. Mike Quigley 

Rep. Jan Schakowsky

From Maryland:

Rep. Donna Edwards 

Rep. Steny Hoyer

From my home state of New York:

Rep. Joe Crowley 

Rep. Steve Israel 

Rep. Nita Lowey 

Rep. Carolyn Maloney 

Rep. Jerry Nadler 

Rep. Louise Slaughter

From Wisconsin:

Rep. Gwen Moore

These 20 pro-choice heroes have consistently stood up against the anti-choice House leadership's War on Women.

In addition, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC proudly endorses two other pro-choice champions from the House who will take their support of women's freedom and privacy to the U.S. Senate:

Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Rep. Shelley Berkley of Nevada

Here's what Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said at a breakfast honoring these pro-choice leaders:

Our priority is to elect pro-choice champions and defeat opponents of women's freedom and privacy. We are prepared for campaign battle in 2012 and will mobilize our one million member activists in support of candidates who will stand with our allies in countering legislative attacks on a woman's right to choose.

Twenty-two pro-choice champions, and 22 more ways we'll stop the War on Women in 2012.

Paid for by NARAL Pro-Choice America, www.ProChoiceAmerica.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.358, the "Let Women Die" bill.

This bill is so extreme that it would allow hospitals to refuse to provide emergency abortion care even when it's necessary to save a woman's life!

And it effectively would ban abortion coverage in state health-insurance exchanges, denying this coverage to millions of women.

With the passage of H.R.358, the House has now held more votes on choice in 2011 than in any year since 2000.

Next stop for the bill: the U.S. Senate.

Anti-choice Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) has already introduced the Senate companion to H.R.358, the "Let Women Die" bill. It has the bill number S.877 and it already has more than 30 cosponsors.

We need to make sure this extreme attack on women's freedom and privacy goes no further!

Tell your senators to stop any effort to advance the "Let Women Die" bill.

And we need pro-choice Americans to speak out: while the Senate currently is under pro-choice leadership, only 40 senators can be counted on as reliably pro-choice votes.

Add your voice today, and make sure your senator puts a STOP to the War on Women.

Several anti-choice lawmakers' refusal to confirm Goodwin Liu, a distinguished law professor and champion of the constitutional right to privacy, proves that they value their extreme, ideological agenda over the priorities of the American people. These politicians have taken their attacks on women's right to privacy to a new level by denying a highly qualified and respected judicial nominee his rightful place on the bench.

What we already know from Roberts's record is cause for concern. His legal career is studded with activities unfriendly to civil rights, abortion rights, and the environment.

We commend fair-minded senators for rejecting the anti-choice House leadership's efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and dismantle the nation's family-planning centers. Unfortunately, the Senate action coincides with a War on Women in the House that continues to escalate. This extreme and far-reaching agenda is a wake-up call to Americans, who are realizing just how much time and energy anti-choice lawmakers are willing to expend attacking a woman's right to choose instead of focusing on the jobs agenda that they promised Americans.

Planned Parenthood provided me with a supportive environment and education regarding birth control and other protective and preventative services that I did not (and perhaps could not) receive from other sources - including my primary care provider at the time. Because of Planned Parenthood I remain healthy, protected, and the master of my own body and my future. Defunding PP would counter-productive, irresponsible, and absolutely dangerous. There is nothing that could replace PP as effectively, and there are few institutions as important in the fight to reduce unwanted pregnancies (and thus abortions), and to provide all women with the services they need.

Politicians who campaigned on the promise of focusing on jobs and the economy need to be held accountable if, at the first possible opportunity, they join with John Boehner to launch a full-fledged war on contraception.

Rep. Chris Gibson of New York

Rep. Nan Hayworth of New York 

Rep. Leonard Lance of New Jersey

Rep. Dan Lipinski of Illinois

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia

Rep. Steve Stivers of Ohio