Legislative Scorecard Anti-Choice Letter
Subject line: Please do more to support women’s health; Prevention First! Letter copy: Dear legislator: As your constituent and a member of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, I urge you to take this opportunity to show your support for common ground Prevention First solutions to improve women’s health and reduce the need for abortion care by signing the “Prevention First Legislative Pledge for Common Ground.” This pledge will show me that over the interim and during the 81st Session, you’ll support similar non-controversial improvements in women’s health, instead of controversial attacks on women’s health. By signing the “Prevention First Legislative Pledge for Common Ground” you’ll be representing me and others in our district by stating your support for policies that increase access to family-planning services, increase access to birth control, and teach our young people honest, realistic sex education. These common-sense programs will increase the health and well-being of women and families in Texas by dramatically reducing unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion. All too often issues of women’s health in Texas are defined by dangerous and divisive attacks on a woman’s right to choose safe and legal abortion. All the while, Texas remains one of the worst states in regard to women’s health and preventive solutions to prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the need for abortion care. Consider that Texas ranks: - 1st in teen pregnancies;
- 50th, dead last, of Non-Elderly Women with Health Insurance;
- 35th in Access to Adequate Prenatal Care;
- 44th in Women Aged 40+ Who Receive Mammograms;
- 45th in Access to Family Planning;
- 47th of Women Aged 18+ Who Receive Pap Smears.
The Prevention First initiatives are crucial given that: - 80 percent of Texans support an increase in funding for family planning;
- 90 percent of Texans support teaching comprehensive sex education in public schools;
- Texas has the nation’s highest teen pregnancy rate; and
- Texas funds one out of every two births in the state through Medicaid—that’s $8,500 per pregnancy compared to an annual cost of $170 per woman for a preventive well-woman exam and year of contraceptives.
Like many, I am tired of dangerous and divisive attacks on a woman’s right to choose in Texas while the real needs of Texas women and families are ignored. Constituents like me want solutions, not more problems; that’s why I’m urging you to sign on to the “Prevention First Legislative Pledge for Common Ground.” For more information about this pledge or Prevention First initiatives please contact NARAL Pro-Choice Texas at 512-462-1661. I thank you in advance for your support of healthy Texas families. Sincerely, ____
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