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 on a woman’s right to choose safe and legal abortion that put politics before policy and too often define issues of women's health in Texas. 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: - 3rd in teen pregnancies;
- 50 (lowest number of any state) in 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% of Texans support an increase in funding for family planning;
- 90% 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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