Legislative Scorecard Pro-Choice Letter
Subject line: Thank you for your leadership on women’s health! Letter copy: Dear legislator: As your constituent and a member of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, I am writing to simply say “thank you” for your leadership and support of Prevention First initiatives to improve women’s health and reduce the need for abortion care. Because I am only writing to say “thank you” I want to let you know that I do not expect a response; simply know I appreciate your time and leadership. Keep it up! Texans like me care more about common ground solutions that bring us together to improve women’s health than more of the same: dangerous and divisive attacks that put politics before policy. 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 pro-active 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 you, 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 writing to say “thank you” for your support of common-ground Prevention First solutions. Keep up the great work! I thank you in advance for your continued support of healthy Texas families. Sincerely, ____
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