On Wednesday, November 18, I went to Washington DC with a pit in my stomach. With the recent passage by the House of a health care bill that bans abortion coverage for millions of women, I am feeling distraught.  I ask myself:  If this is the best of times for progressive policy agendas and for individual women, where are we headed?

On November 7, 2009, the House passed a health care bill that contains an eleventh-hour amendment offered by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA) that would effectively ban private abortion coverage for the millions of women in the new health care “exchange,” even if these women are paying for the full cost of the health care coverage with their own funds.  (The exchange — the heart and soul of the House bill — is expected to have 30 million participants within the first six years and grow from there. The Stupak amendment is intended to ban abortion coverage for everyone in the exchange.) 

I went to Washington last week to join with 200 leaders from around the country, including pro-choice activist Kate Michelman, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, Feminist Majority Foundation President Ellie Smeal, NCJW’s Director of Washington Operations Sammie Moshenberg, and NCJW SPA Julie Krachman.  Together, we reaffirmed our commitment to securing meaningful health care reform without diminishing women’s rights and health.  I left strengthened, reinvigorated, and ready to fight.

Over the course of the day we heard from several senators — all of whom carried the same message: health care reform is about expanding health care services and choices, not diminishing women’s access to a critical medical service.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid heard that message. At the end of last week, he introduced a health reform bill that is abortion neutral and does not include the harmful Stupak language.

I believe that by making our voices heard, by being unequivocal in the demand that health care reform cannot set women back, and by actively engaging with the senators in our districts and in DC, we can prevail in the Senate. And with that momentum, I believe a health care bill that does not sacrifice the rights of women is also within our grasp.

This is our moment. This is our time to hold on to the rights we have been fighting for and protecting for decades.  This is our chance to build a future that we are proud for our daughters to inherit. But we must change the tide to do so.  The November 7th House bill was a huge setback. We must use that defeat to mobilize, inspire and succeed. Together, we have the power to make a difference.

Get involved and take action today:

• Participate in NCJW’s special distance-learning call on Monday, November 23, 2009.
• Meet with your representative and senators in district during the Thanksgiving break.
• Join NCJW and thousands of others in DC for a rally and lobby day on December 2, 2009.