by Christine Stone, Pennsylvania state public affairs chair, NCJW

At 6:30 am, in the cold Pittsburgh air, I filled up my car with a tank of gas and started on a four hour drive to our nation's Capitol.  As I drove through the small towns and mountains of Pennsylvania, the feelings of helplessness over the Stupak/Pitts Amendment began to dissipate. After weeks of frustration from the votes of our region's congressmen, I felt an incredible responsibility to answer President Nancy Ratzan’s call to action.

Signs to Pennsylvania turnpike exits gave way to Pennsylvania Avenue, and as I made my way from the parking lot at DC's Union Station, I clutched the envelope that would be my guide for the day -- letters to congressmen and senators, my list of appointments and a map, as well as cell phone numbers of coalition partners and Philadelphia NCJW members. I quickly found my way to Dirksen Senate Office Building, the hub for what was being called the Stupak Day of Action. Registration tables and buttons adorned the hallway and soon the friendly faces of our NCJW legislative associates and Director of Washington Operations Sammie Moshenberg made me feel at ease. I was ready to get to work.

Legislative Associate Nina Schwartz and I were soon on the move, crossing through the US Capital grounds, already talking about ways to strengthen our Pennsylvania reproductive rights coalition by including faith-based leaders. We also went over the latest information on the status of senators' positions on the Stupak/Pitts-like amendment we expected to be offered to the Senate health care bill.

After a few drop-ins at Congressional offices, I was among those in one of three back–to-back meetings with Senator Arlen Specter's staff. Standing side by side with our dedicated members from the NCJW Philadelphia Section and our coalition partners from across Pennsylvania, one thing was clear: the Stupak/Pitts Amendment vote was a message to women everywhere that we are indeed fighting the greatest challenge to reproductive rights in a generation.

While Senator Specter has a good record on abortion rights, we weren't going to take his vote for granted. We asked Senator Specter to oppose any efforts to insert language similar to the Stupak amendment into the Senate bill. For NCJW to have a powerful voice in this debate, I know it is critical that we be unequivocal in the demand that health care reform cannot set women back. 

And in the late afternoon, I was part of a small meeting with Senator Bob Casey, Jr.  Although he is not supportive of the abortion-neutral compromise language in the Senate bill, we tried to communicate that many of his constituents strongly oppose his position on this issue.

After the meeting with Senator Casey, I walked back to Union Station in the light rain and darkened skies, not discouraged but empowered. I answered NCJW's call to action to speak out against the Stupak/Pitts Amendment because it deprives millions of women access to abortion services, and also because this type of amendment is an assault on the separation of church and state. Knowing that reproductive rights are closely tied to religious freedom, I cannot understand my senator's desire to impose his religious view of abortion on the laws that govern all. 

In answering NCJW's call to action, I found what I've already known – that NCJW is the most effective, most powerful, and the most satisfying place where you can take action and take a stand.