A Critical Time to Pay Congress a Visit

By Brett Copeland

League of Young Leaders Co-Chair

No deal: It’s what we heard on Tuesday as House Leadership left the White House. We are coming down to zero-hour on the budget (or at least until the next Continuing Resolution). House Republicans have made it clear they’re willing to slash and burn whatever they can—no matter how many women and families it harms.

So, Pro-Choice Lobby Day on Capitol Hill comes at a critical time. Anti-choice leaders have moved not only to defund Planned Parenthood but also totally eliminate valuable Title X funding for family planning services. With more of the budget on the chopping block, there’s no telling what’s next.

That’s why a coalition of Pro-Choice supporters will be in the halls of Congress, talking to Representatives, Senators and their staff. We must ensure that our voice is heard loud and clear by anti-choice lawmakers who have shown they will say and do almost anything to erode fundamental reproductive human rights (including subjecting survivors of rape and incest who choose abortion care to audits by the Internal Revenue Service).

So what can you do?

If you’re in DC, Virginia or Maryland and can take off work, there’s still time to register to lobby. We’ll have on-site training as well as events throughout the day to keep you fed and on the move.

If you’re in DC, Virginia or Maryland and can’t take off work, you can always join us during our lunchtime rally on the National Mall.

But don’t worry—if you can’t do either of those things, but still want to help, visit NARAL Pro-Choice America’s Webpage—you can help sponsor our efforts on Lobby Day, make calls from home or, heck, buy a t-shirt.

We would also love to have you join us at our League of Young Leaders (LoYL) happy hour following lobby day. RSVP to get the full details.

The more people we have standing up and declaring that we’re Pro-Choice and proud of it, the better chance we’ll have at making an impact.

I’ll be there.

Will you?

General Assembly Update: February 2

Happy Wednesday everyone! Welcome to this Week’s 2011 General Assembly update!

There is a lot going on this week as the Assembly prepares for next week’s “Crossover,” so let’s get right to it, starting with last week’s…

Pro-Choice Lobby Day!

This past Thursday, the Virginia Pro-Choice Coalition hosted our annual Pro-Choice Lobby Day. Despite a hectic morning of cancelled buses, snowy roads and a cancelled flight from New York, we had a great turnout! We spent the morning meeting with various legislators, letting them know where we stand on choice-related bills and other issues, and had many positive experiences. Participants noticed that when they shared personal stories legislators and their aides seemed especially receptive.We then got a chance to see SB 967, which would require Family Life Education programs be medically accurate, pass out of the Senate Education and Health Committee! After the meetings and two great breakout sessions (one hosted by our former campus intern Anna, focusing on her excellent work on CPC awareness at University of Mary Washington) took to the streets, holding signs and letting the General Assembly know that we are pro-choice and we will not tolerate restrictions on access to reproductive health! Be sure to check out the pictures on Facebook. While we were rallying, a reporter from WRIR News Richmond interviewed us about the day.

We then marched over to the Methodist church for our lunch presentation, where Sara Hutchinson, the Domestic Program Director for Catholics for Choice was our guest speaker. She spoke about the influence the bishops have behind the scenes in Congress, the national reproductive rights debate, what it means for states and the importance of reaching out to every legislator asking them to support reproductive health access. Sara’s presentation reminded us all of the importance of holding our elected officials accountable!

Everyone in attendance seemed to have a great time, and we’ll look forward to next year’s Lobby Day (most likely with plans for a snow day)!

Of course, one major point of Lobby Day is to lobby, so let’s look at where the bills on which we lobbied currently lie.

HB 2147

Anti-choice lawmakers in Virginia continue the unfortunate nationwide trend of doing everything in their power to limit or eliminate access to vital abortion care. Delegate Benjamin Cline (R-Amherst), is the patron of HB 2147, which would prohibit private insurance companies from offering abortion coverage for women. This bill would even prohibit necessary care that would protect the health and life of Virginia women. Late in the evening yesterday, the House Commerce and Labor subcommittee #1 heard the bill. After the sponsor seemed confused about how exchanges would actually work, the vote came down to a tie, which means the bill was tabled! However, as soon as we left the room, we learned the bill was being resurrected and voted on again. The subcommittee called in Delegate Bill Janis (R-Glen Allen), the majority whip, to break the tie. Unfortunately, with Janis’ vote, the subcommittee voted to report the bill to committee.  This means the House Commerce and Labor Committee could hear the bill tomorrow! If your delegate is a member of the Committee, please contact her or him and urge them to vote against HB 2147. (Click here to find the members of the Committee.)

HB 2433

HB 2433 was a bill mandating ultrasounds. It would have required every pregnant woman to undergo an ultrasound before obtaining an abortion, placing yet another medically unnecessary, ideologically motivated burden on Virginia women. We recently learned the House version of the bill was deleted as the patron was over his bill limit. The bill has now appeared in the Senate as SB 1435, patroned by Senator Ralph Smith (R-Roanoke). The bill is currently in the Senate Education and Health Committee.

HB 1428

On Tuesday of last week, HB 1428 (known as a “targeted regulation of abortion providers,” or “TRAP,” bill, because it singles out abortion providers) was presented to the House floor. There were strong arguments on both sides. The bill’s patron, Delegate Dickie Bell (R-Augusta), described the bill as only requiring defibrillators and generators, which is false. It also imposes new, costly licensing restrictions not required of other similar medical providers! During the debate, Delegate Bob Marshall (R-Manassas) introduced an amendment that would require abortion providers in Virginia to adhere to the standards approved by a 2000 South Carolina lawsuit (Greenville Women’s Clinic v. Bryant). Republicans responded by saying that writing court decisions into the code of Virginia would be a first and could set a bad precedent. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and the amendment failed. During the hubbub, choice champion Delegate David Englin (D-Alexandria), argued that a vote for the bill was a vote against women’s access to health care. Be sure to watch the video of his floor speech!

Unfortunately, the House voted to approve the bill by a vote of 66 to 33. If your delegate voted for the bill, please express your disappointment that they would choose politics over women’s health. If your delegate voted against the bill, please thank them for standing up for Virginia women and access to reproductive health care. The bill is now in the Senate Education and Health Committee.

Good News!

As we mentioned earlier, the Senate Education and Health Committee passed SB 967, the pro-choice Family Life Education bill patroned by Senator Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk).  Many organizations stood up in support of the bill, including Planned Parenthood, ACLU-VA, the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Alliance, Virginia NOW, and NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia.  No one stood up against the bill! This is a victory for Virginia youth, as this bill requires Family Life Education programs to be medically accurate and evidence based! We expect the full Senate to hear the bill anytime this week, and it may come down to just a few votes. So please contact your senator today and ask her or him to vote for SB 967!

HB 2436 (Insurance Choice Act)

HB 2436, or the Insurance Choice Act, is our signature bill, patroned by Delegate Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria). This bill would maintain current status quo of abortion coverage for women in the private insurance market. This bill would maintain women’s access to vital reproductive health care! Suprisingly we did not get as much of a fight as we expected on the bill. For now, the bill was tabled, which is good news, because it means it was not defeated outright. Stay tuned for more!

HB 1488

On Friday, HB 1488, patroned by Delegate Patrick Hope (D-Arlington) was in the militia police and public safety committee. This bill would prevent pregnant inmates from being shackled or restrained during transport, labor or delivery. Other states have passed similar regulations that ensure the woman’s health and the health of her fetus. Yet Virginia continues to have instances where women are shackled and/or restrained during delivery! It defies human dignity.  The bill was passed by the subcommittee unanimously and then went to the committee right away. Unfortunately the bill was tabled after some debate. Yet on a positive note, directive for the chair, Delegate Beverly Sherwood (R-Winchester) will write a letter to the Board of Corrections to review and make policy regarding the treatment of pregnant inmates.

Whew, we know that is a lot. Thanks for bearing with us during this fast-paced General Assembly session. Be sure to keep checking our website, Facebook page or Twitter feed for more updates! As always, feel free to email us with any questions or concerns!

[Thanks to our intern Hallie for her work on this post.]

Are You Ready For Thursday? (Action Alert)

Do you know what Thursday is?

This Thursday, January 27, is Pro-Choice Lobby Day in Richmond, and there is still time to register online!

With the general assembly session in full swing and moving quickly on anti-choice bills, we must remind our elected officials to promote, and not restrict, access to reproductive care for Virginia women.

And we will be doing just that at this year’s Pro-Choice Lobby Day!

Register Now!
Pro-Choice Lobby Day!
Date: Thursday, January 27
Time: 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Address: General Assembly
9th Street & Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia

The day will feature wonderful pro-choice speakers, break-out sessions, lobbying with your elected official, and a pro-choice rally! Be sure to add your voice to hundreds of other letting the General Assembly know Virginia is pro-choice. I look forward to seeing you there.

General Assembly Update: January 25

Happy Tuesday everyone! Welcome to this week’s 2011 General Assembly update!

The Assembly is moving quickly during this 45-day session, so let’s get you caught up to speed on where the reproductive choice bills are.

First, the bad.

HB 1428- Singling out abortion providers

As we noted on Friday, The House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee voted to approve HB 1428, sending it to the full House for a vote. HB 1428, is a bill sponsored by Delegate Richard Bell (R-20) that singles out first-trimester abortion providers in Virginia for new restrictions! If passed, the bill will force these providers to comply with hospital-level regulations; regulations that are not imposed on doctors performing similar office-based procedures such as oral surgery, plastic surgery, or colonoscopy.

This “TRAP” bill (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers) could make it more difficult for abortion providers to provide vital medical care to Virginian women. We continue to support the highest standards of care for abortion in the Commonwealth. First-trimester abortion remain safe and legal in our state, and we will continue fighting on the ground to make sure the General Assembly does not single out valued members of the medical field for unwarranted and unnecessary restrictions. The bill passed the House Committee in a 15-6 vote, and is now awaiting second reading on the House floor. Please contact your delegate today and ask her or him to vote against this bill!

HB 2433- Mandating ultrasounds

In addition, to placing new restrictions on first-trimester abortion providers, the General Assembly is considering a bill to place more undue burdens on women seeking abortion care. Delegate Mark Cole (R-88) is the patron of HB 2433, which would require every pregnant woman to have an ultrasound prior to obtaining an abortion.

This bill invades the doctor-patient relationship. In fact, forcing a patient to undergo a procedure that may not be medically relevant or necessary to the patient’s interests violates the American Medical Association’s Code of Medical Ethics.

While opposing some health mandates, Delegate Cole and other out-of-touch lawmakers seem fine with mandates interfering in a woman’s personal, medical decision.

HB 2433 is currently in subcommittee in House Committee for Courts of Justice. If you delegate is a member of the subcommittee or committee, please contact them and urge them to vote against this burdensome legislation!

Now for some good news!

Senator Ralph Northam (D-6) is the patron of SB 967, which would require school districts to teach medically-accurate and evidence-based programs under Family Life Education guidelines. This bill would provide Virginia youth with the knowledge they need to make healthy, lifelong decisions, and will take a step in the right direction to reducing the rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The bill just passed subcommittee, and is expected to go before the Senate Education and Health Committee this Thursday!

Delegate Charniele Herring (D-46) is the patron of HB 2436, which states insurance plans may neither require nor prohibit abortion coverage, leaving coverage up to a woman and her private insurance plan. This bill is currently in subcommittee in the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee.

However, on the flip side of Delegate Herring’s positive bill, Delegate Benjamin Cline (R-24) and Senator Mark Obenshain (R-26) are offering up bills to prohibit any private insurance plan from covering abortion care. (HB 2147 and SB 1202, respectively.) HB 2147 is currently in subcommittee in the House Commerce and Labor Committee and SB 1202 is in Senate Education and Health Committee.

And finally, Delegate Bob Marshall (R-13) and newly-elected Senator William Stanley (R-19) are both offering up bills to grant “personhood” rights to fetuses. (HB 1440 and SB 1378, respectively.) These bills could go so far as to outlaw certain forms of birth control and all cases of abortion! The bills are currently in committee.

Be sure to keep checking our bill tracker to get the latest updates on all the bills we are following. And be sure to email us to if you have questions about contacting your legislator!

If you are not sure who your legislator is, you can easily find your legislator here. Or email us for more info!

As a final reminder, remember to join us this Thursday, January 27 for Pro-Choice Lobby Day in Richmond! Registration is still open, so be sure to register online today!

Additionally, be sure to sign up for our Legislative Rapid Response Team to help us react rapidly to events as they happen at the capitol!

[Thanks to our interns Sara and Hallie for their work on this post.]

House Committee Passes Abortion Restrictions (Action Alert!)

A bill to limit access to abortion services in Virginia is going to the full House! Please take action to help us stop it.

Yesterday morning, the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee voted to approve the bill, sending it to the full House floor for a vote. (See how the committee members voted.)

This bill is a “targeted regulation of abortion providers” (TRAP) law. Patroned by Delegate Richard P. Bell (R-20), it singles out abortion providers for rules that don’t apply to other medical professionals. We support the highest standards for women’s health, but these regulations are unrelated to women’s health and could shut many providers down. This bill is an anti-choice tactic to take away access to safe, legal abortion care in Virginia.

In fact, when asked for statistics or evidence to prove that singling out abortion providers for such regulations is necessary and would protect women’s health, Delegate Bell has admitted to having none! It is clear this is a move simply designed to shut down as many abortion providers as possible.

The anti-choice politicians behind this bill do not care about women’s health. There is no medical reason to force abortion providers to comply with hospital-level regulations – restrictions not imposed on other doctors performing similar office-based surgeries such as oral surgery, plastic surgery, or colonoscopy. This law would mandate onerous, costly and medically unnecessary changes to many providers’  offices and procedures, making it difficult for doctors to provide vital medical care to Virginia women.

The bill has gone through its first reading on the floor, and will most likely go to a second reading on Monday. Please, help us keep the pressure on by emailing your legislator today and ask her or him to oppose this unwarranted, unnecessary, and harmful legislation!

P.S. Remember to join us next Thursday, January 27 for Pro-Choice Lobby Day as we let the General Assembly know Virginia is pro-choice! Be sure to register online today!

One Week Out From Pro-Choice Lobby Day (Action Alert)

Next Thursday is our chance to remind our elected officials that Virginia is pro-choice!

We are in the midst of a difficult general assembly session with anti-choice lawmakers pushing to limit or eliminate access to reproductive choice in Virginia!

That is why we hope you’ll join NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, the Virginia Pro-Choice Coalition, and nearly 500 other citizen-activists from across the state for Pro-Choice Lobby Day in Richmond next Thursday, January 27!

Register Now!

Pro-Choice Lobby Day!
Date: Thursday, January 27
Time: 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Address: General Assembly
9th Street & Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia

The day will feature amazing pro-choice speakers, break-out sessions, and opportunities to tell your elected officials the importance of protecting reproductive choice in our state. Keep checking our website for updates and more details!

Be sure to register online with our pro-choice coalition partners Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia.

We also have buses available to bring activists from different parts of the state. You can purchase your bus ticket, which includes the cost of your lunch, when you register. We also have bus ticket subsidies available for those who may not otherwise be able to join us. Check online for more information on buses.

We have a lot to fight for and against this session and beyond. So sign up, speak out, and join us next Thursday as we fight for reproductive choice in the Commonwealth!

 

Special thanks to Women’s Glib and Advocates for Youth for posting the alert!

General Assembly Begins Today! (Action Alert)

Today marks the beginning of a 45-day battle to protect reproductive choice in Virginia!

Although the 2011 general assembly session that starts today is a short one for Virginia, we will have our hands full nearly every moment with anti-choice attacks on birth control, abortion access, and comprehensive sex education! We will also be busy advocating for pro-choice policies on issues such as expanding comprehensive sex education for Virginia’s young people and improving contraceptive access for low-income women.

We’ll need your support and your voice to ensure that our efforts in Richmond are successful this year. Here are some ways you can get involved and keep up-to-date on the latest information about protecting and promoting reproductive choice during the general assembly session and beyond!

• Sign up to join the Legislative Rapid Response Team and find out how you can get involved as one of our go-to activists throughout the session.
• “Like” our NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia page on Facebook or follow @NARALVirginia on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates from Richmond.
• Subscribe to our blog or Tumblr account.
• Join our League of Young Leaders (LoYL) group for pro-choice young professionals! “Like” them on Facebook or follow @LoYL2Choice on Twitter.

And don’t forget to join NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, the Virginia Pro-Choice Coalition, and nearly 500 other pro-choice Virginians like you for 2011’s Pro-Choice Lobby Day on January 27, 2011! Register now for your opportunity to tell your elected officials why Virginia is pro-choice!

This promises to be a difficult session for reproductive choice, but together we can protect our freedoms and show lawmakers that Virginia is pro-choice! We will be on the ground in Richmond fighting daily, and I hope I can count on having you standing with us. Stay tuned for updates on more ways you can get involved as the session continues.

Thank you for your support!

Only Three Weeks Away from Pro-Choice Lobby Day! (Action Alert)

Next week, the Virginia General Assembly begins what is shaping up to be an extremely challenging legislative session for choice. Anti-choice legislators are already gearing up to launch assaults on abortion access, birth control, and comprehensive sex education that could have devastating effects for the future of reproductive freedom in Virginia!

It is imperative that pro-choice Virginians like us come together and make sure our voices are heard. We must present a united front and let our lawmakers know that women’s rights, privacy and health are not political bargaining chips.

That’s why I hope you’ll join NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, the Virginia Pro-Choice Coalition, and nearly 500 other citizen-activists from across the state for Pro-Choice Lobby Day in Richmond on January 27!

Register now!

Pro-Choice Lobby Day!
Date: Thursday, January 27, 2011
Time: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Address: General Assembly
9th Street & Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia

The day will feature amazing pro-choice speakers, break-out sessions, and opportunities to tell your elected officials the importance of protecting reproductive choice in the Commonwealth. Keep checking our website for updates and more details!

Be sure to register online with our pro-choice coalition partners Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia. Don’t want to drive to Lobby Day? We’ll have several buses to bring activists from different parts of the state. You can purchase your bus ticket, which includes the cost of your lunch, when you register. We also have bus ticket subsidies available for those who may not otherwise be able to join us. Check online for more information on buses.

Remember, choice is a fragile liberty we must vehemently protect. I hope you’ll join us to take a stand for your pro-choice values during this crucial legislative session.

Grade: Unsatisfactory

The National Women’s Law Center released its latest report card on women’s health initiatives, and the findings are dismal for the nation. While no state received an overall grade of satisfactory, Virginia received an unsatisfactory grade, coming in 15^th place. (Vermont and Massachusetts came in first and second place, respectively, receiving satisfactory minus grades.)

Virginia’s unsatisfactory grade confirms what we already know; when politicians like Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (PDF), Governor Bob McDonnell and Delegate Bob Marshall (PDF) choose to play ideological games, women suffer.

Disappointingly, the Center found the percentage of women in counties without an abortion provider increased by ten percent from 47% to 57%, meaning the majority of women in Virginia now do not have access to a local abortion provider. This lack of access can lead to delays in obtaining necessary abortion care.

Think current lack of access is bad news? Well, under the guise of concern for women, anti-abortion opponents are attempting to force 100% of Virginia women to have no access to safe, legal abortion care!

In addition to lack of access to abortion care, the percentage of Virginia women without health insurance also increased, with nearly 20% of women between 18- and 44-years-old without insurance. It is incredibly important that women have access to affordable, vital insurance to both prevent unintended pregnancies and carry healthy pregnancies to term. While the new health care bill will increase the availability of private insurance and Medicaid, out-of-touch Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli opposes supporting low-income women and families, choosing instead to file a lawsuit against the bill fifteen minutes after it was signed.

When our elected officials choose to let ideology trump practical public policy, women’s health suffers. While the disappointing news came at the close of 2010, we know we have our work cut out for us in 2011. Choice in Virginia is under greater threat than ever before. If you are interested in helping us protect choice in the Commonwealth in 2011, check out the website to find out about Pro-Choice Lobby Day, upcoming events, contributing financially or becoming an intern!

Opponents of reproductive choice often go out of their way to block access to affordable, necessary health care. Now that is truly unsatisfactory!

Protecting Choice: Interns

At NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia we have three (soon to be four) full-time staff dedicated to fighting for reproductive rights across the over 42,000 square miles of our state. We have high hopes for protecting and promoting choice in the Commonwealth in 2011, but we cannot do it alone! That is why we are putting out our official call for 2011 internships!

Do you find yourself wringing your hands during the General Assembly session every year and wondering what exactly is going on there? Do you get excited when you hear pro-choice activists worked to make Virginia one of only four U.S. states with a pro-choice license plate? If so, we need you! NARAL Virginia is looking for vivacious and tenacious interns to help us promote pro-choice values and prevent anti-choice legislation during 2011’s General Assembly session beginning January 12, 2011. Our interns will also help us bring 500 supporters and activists to the capitol for Pro-Choice Lobby Day. Find out more details!

Money, media and marketing. No, we’re not talking about jobs in Hollywood or New York. We’re talking about our fundraising, special events and social media internship. Development interns assist with donations and membership (so we can continue our amazing programs), fundraising, event planning and keeping NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia on the cutting edge (or “hip” as the kids* say) by updating and writing for our website, blog, Facebook and Twitter. Check it out!

We saw what happened when the anti-choice crowd came out to the polls in the recent midterm elections. Well, now is our time to push back as all 140 Virginia General Assembly seats are up for grabs in 2011! We currently have a mixed-choice Senate and an anti-choice House of Delegates. We must protect the Senate to make sure we can continue to expand pro-choice policies for the coming years! Help us with our statewide, grassroots efforts beginning in the summer of 2011. Political junkies click here.

All internships are based primarily in our Washington, D.C. office and are unpaid. However, we do provide a travel stipend, a great community and hands-on experience for our interns!

Hear what current and former interns say:

“My favorite part of my internship was researching and collecting data for the Crisis Pregnancy Center project, which resulted in the “Crisis Pregnancy Centers Revealed” report. Not only was it a learning experience, but it helped me feel like I was making a difference in women’s lives and really taking a stand for women’s reproductive health. Being a part of this research made my internship experience at NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia truly memorable.”

“I love the laid back atmosphere of the office and the responsibility we have to get things done without constant supervision.  Plus our fantastic boss, Joey, of course!” [Editor’s Note: Joey did not write this quote.]

Former interns have gone on to work on Capitol Hill, with national family planning groups, at think tanks, on farms in Oregon and have travelled to Mexico. We prepare you for anything!**

So check out the website or email Joey or Caroline to apply today!

 

*Not sure which kids from which decade.

**But not everything.