Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc., reaffirms that every woman must have the right to control her own reproductive future, including if, when and how to have children. Hadassah remains committed to advocating at every level of government to support access, resources and funding for the whole spectrum of reproductive health services – including fertility treatment, maternal and post-partum care, contraception and abortion – as critical components of women’s health care that must be protected.
Without access to the full continuum of reproductive care, women’s health outcomes suffer across the board. Attempts to ban, restrict and deny abortion and contraception jeopardize the life and wellbeing of any person with the potential to become pregnant. Additionally, attempts to outlaw fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) are devastating for the one in eight couples struggling with infertility.
Maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the United States, already alarmingly high, continue to rise while infant mortality rates are also increasing, in part due to the recent restrictions on reproductive choice. Federal law requires hospitals to provide emergency care to patients. If the courts decide that state abortion bans supersede essential health-stabilizing care, maternal mortality rates and women’s overall health could worsen even further. Hadassah will continue to support and champion federal policies that provide national protections for all critical reproductive health services, including protections for providers and others who facilitate access to care.
In the current policy environment, where there are no federal protections for abortion, Hadassah actively supports efforts to enshrine abortion protections in state constitutions through ballot initiatives or other means. Hadassah urges our members, Associates, and supporters to vote and to mobilize around ballot initiatives that support reproductive choice while continuing to fight state level efforts to ban and restrict access to abortion, contraception and fertility care.
Hadassah strongly urges policymakers at the local, state and federal levels to:
- Protect and expand funding for fertility care and treatments, including IVF.
- Expand funding and promote the need for essential maternal health services that support families, prevent fetal complications, and protect the lives of those giving birth across the nation.
- Safeguard access to contraception, including birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and emergency contraception, such as Plan B.
- Ensure access to safe abortions, including medication abortion and urgent care for patients when their health is in jeopardy.
- Pass laws that protect providers of reproductive health services and allies that facilitate access to care against criminal or civil action.
- Speak out about women’s right to self-determination and bodily autonomy, as well as the complex and ongoing health needs of women, including across the spectrum of reproductive health.