Proposal Would Severely Restrict Access to Contraception

The Bush Administration is circulating a draft rule that would limit the rights of patients to receive complete and accurate health information and services. The sweeping move even goes so far as to redefine pregnancy in order to inaccurately classify many forms of birth control as abortion.

NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Planned Parenthood Public Policy Network of Washington, ACLU of Washington, the Washington State Affiliate of the National Organization for Women, and the Northwest Women's Law Center denounce the proposed rule.

"Showing a complete disregard for established medical science, the Bush Administration is equating contraception, which prevents pregnancy, with abortion," said Karen Cooper, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington. "It has never been more evident that this administration will stop at nothing to prevent women from accessing reproductive health care."

"At a time when more and more families are uninsured and under economic assault, we find our healthcare system is in crisis and our president taking steps to deny access to basic care," said Elaine Rose, Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood Public Policy Network of WA.

Here in Washington, the proposed regulation could undermine a state law that requires hospital emergency rooms to offer emergency contraception to rape victims. Low-income and uninsured women are particularly at risk as any clinic receiving federal funding – such as Medicaid - could refuse to provide contraception services.

The above organizations stand in coalition against this latest assault on women’s health by the Bush Administration.