Right now, members of Congress are introducing dangerous bills that threaten reproductive freedom and restrict women’s ability to access reproductive healthcare services, putting their lives at unnecessary risk.
This legislation includes an outright national ban on abortion, a national ban on medication abortion, prohibiting insurance plans from covering important reproductive care, withdrawing federal funds from colleges and universities that provide abortion services and much more.
Over the past few years, we have witnessed bans and restrictions that led to poor health outcomes, denial of emergency services and suffering for women, including serious injury and death. States with bans or restrictions on abortion have fewer maternity care providers and from 2018 to 2020, the maternal death rate increased twice as fast in states with abortion restrictions compared to those with access.
Several stories have been reported that highlight these policies’ grave impact on women’s health. In Georgia, one woman was afraid to seek much-needed medical attention for an infection due to legislation in the state making dilation and curettage (D&C) procedures a felony. Another woman in Texas was experiencing a miscarriage and was refused care due to the presence of a fetal heartbeat. Both women later died of infections. This cannot continue.
We must stand up to these policies to ensure that people across the country have complete access to reproductive health care and that medical professionals can provide essential care without fearing for their jobs or their safety.
We educated and mobilized organizations and community leaders, shared resources and helped get the word out that reproductive freedom is a Jewish value and a first amendment issue of freedom of religion. Working in coalition is key to effective organizing and achieving shared goals. The bridges built during this effort carry forward to ongoing and future educational and legislative projects. -- Harriet Rubinson, Hadassah's Vice President of Advocacy for the Greater Baltimore Region
Hadassah’s Advocacy in Action
Hadassah has and always will stand for reproductive choice, which is essential for women’s health. Our work to protect reproductive rights both at the federal level and in states across the country is more important than ever.
In 2024, Hadassah members’ tireless advocacy led to success for reproductive rights across the country on Election Day. Hadassah grassroots volunteers and leaders helped pass ballot initiatives in seven states (Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and New York) to protect reproductive freedom. Despite these wins, there is much more to do.
Join us and urge your lawmakers to reject dangerous measures attacking women’s healthcare and call on them to protect reproductive freedom by passing the Right to Contraception Act.
Visit our National Action Center to learn more.
