Women and Politics

This post was submitted by WCF Fellow, Stephanie Glover

There has been a lot of negative news around health care reform lately. A lot of people, including myself, are especially worried about the state of women’s health care in the proposed reforms. But yesterday’s rally on Capitol Hill left me feeling positive and inspired.

The lunchtime rally was held in the Dirksen Senate Building, attended by hundreds of feminists. The event was part of a lobby day where constituents from around the country met with their representatives and senators, urging them to vote in support of women’s health.

The amazing Cecile Richards emceed the rally highlighting the importance of stopping the Stupak-Pitts amendment and protecting women’s health while also introducing the many distinguished speakers. All the speakers focused on how this ban on women’s health and reproductive choices is a giant step backward. Health care should be about moving forward and providing better care for all Americans, not restricting the choice available to women.

Speaker after speaker echoed this sentiment. As Ms. Richards joked, there is nothing like having too many members of Congress show up to a rally! For me, this is when I felt really positive about the future of the bill—there were so many representatives and senators there that they had to simply hand the mic to the next speaker because there was little time for introductions. Speaking at the rally were Senators Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, and Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Representatives Susan Davis, Jerrold Nadler, Nita Lowey, Rosa DeLauro, Diana DeGette, Carolyn Maloney, Jane Harman, Judy Chu, Jan Schakowsky, Lynn Woolsey, and Lois Capps. All of these men and women want health care reform, but not on the backs of women.

I’ll be counting on them to convey this message to their colleagues in the House and Senate.

If you couldn’t make it to the rally, sign our petition in support of women’s health.