Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Healthy Women’s Action Kit Featured in “Dear Abby”


Order a FREE Healthy Women’s Action Kit as featured in “Dear Abby.”We’re offering these publications in honor of Women’s Health Week. The kit provides the information you need to:

  • Manage your cholesterol, blood pressure, and risk for diabetes
  • Stay safe using cosmetics and getting tattoos
  • Recognize and avoid online health scams
  • Confidently talk to your doctor about menopause and hormones
  • Find the stop-smoking method that can work for you
  • And more!

Fill out a simple online form to order this kit for yourself and the women in your life.

Tell Congress to fix … The medical-device safety bill


Today's consumer action:

Fix the Flaw!The medical-device safety bill is coming up for a major vote, and it still has a gaping loophole! Tell your Senators to Fix the Flaw!Take action

You wouldn’t buy a new car with a known safety defect. You’d expect the problem to be fixed first.

So why is Congress planning to let medical device manufacturers keep selling implants – from hip replacements to heart defibrillators to surgical mesh – without having them fix the safety flaw first?

Tell your Senators and Representative: Fix the Flaw!

This week the Senate could vote on the bill that sets safety standards for the medical device industry. Lobbyists have managed to keep this gaping safety loophole from being fixed in the bill, and we need consumers to speak out today before it’s too late.

Manufacturers love the loophole because they can put an implant on the market just by showing that it’s ‘substantially equivalent’ to one already approved – even if the implant they’re modeling it on was recalled for safety problems! And the FDA can’t make the company prove they’ve fixed the flaw or do clinical safety testing before the device is sold to you!

The consequences are serious. Tens of thousands of women have various vaginal mesh implants inside them based on a 1999 recalled product. Last year the FDA warned about bleeding, infections and organ perforation from the mesh deteriorating, and many women require multiple surgeries to repair the damage. The FDA should have the authority to demand flaws like these be fixed before allowing the devices to be sold.

Congress: Fix the Flaw with medical devices, and hold industry responsible for safety!

It’s important you get your Senators’ attention on this matter, or the loophole might just slip quietly through. Consumers’ emails have already made the safety bills stronger, so please forward this to others so they can add their voice to this critical issue.

Sincerely,
Lisa McGiffert, SafePatientProject.org

Senator Patty Murray & Education – Washington State


Keeping College Affordable

Last week, I joined with students and administrators at South Seattle Community College to host a rally in support of the Stop the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act of 2012. Unless Congress acts, interest rates for over 100,000 students across Washington state will double on July 1 st , which would add $1,000 to the cost of these loans for millions of Americans and will be one more strain for students and families already fighting to afford college in this tough economy. At the rally, I called on Republicans to end their filibuster of this bill and work with Democrats to keep rates low for millions of students. I will continue to fight to make sure we avoid the automatic increase on July 1 st. We should be working to make it easier for students to afford college, not harder.

Read more

“Senator Murray rallies SSCC students to fight for student loan interest rate protection”
– West Seattle Herald

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Continuing to Push for Stronger Violence Against Women Legislation

Last week, House Republicans released their version of the Violence Against Women Act. The House bill, which passed with only Republican support and with strong bipartisan opposition, not only stripped the Senate version of the bill’s provisions making needed progress for LGBT, immigrant, and tribal victims, but also included dangerous rollbacks of existing protections for immigrant victims.

I believe the House Republican version of VAWA is a giant step backward for victims of domestic violence. This is dangerous and irresponsible and leaves women across the country more vulnerable to domestic abuse. Where a person lives, who they love, or what their citizenship status may be should not determine whether or not their perpetrators are brought to justice. I’m glad that in the Senate we were able to come together around an inclusive, bipartisan bill, and I remain committed to fighting to make sure my colleagues in the House of Representatives will do the same. We’ve made a lot of progress since VAWA was first passed in 1994, and I hope that my Republican colleagues will not insist on putting partisan politics ahead of protecting victims of domestic violence. I will continue to fight in support of the Senate’s bipartisan bill, and to make sure that Republicans do not turn back the clock on the important progress that has been made.

Read more

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Celebrating the Anniversary of Title IX

Megan Rapinoe, midfielder for the Seattle Sounders Women, recalling how Title IX opened the door for her as a young athlete.

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of joining with members of the Seattle Sounders Women and student athletes at Garfield High School in Seattle to mark the upcoming 40 th anniversary of Title IX, historic legislation that fundamentally changed the lives of women and girls across the country by allowing them equal access to athletic opportunities. Members of the Sounders Women talked about the ways this legislation helped open doors for them when they were younger, and I discussed legislation I am currently cosponsoring The High School Sports Information Collection Act in the Senate , that will strengthen the rights provided by Title IX, to ensure that future generations of young women are able to continue expanding opportunities and leveling the playing field.

“Sen. Murray teams up with Sounders Women to discuss Title IX”
– Bothell Reporter

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They Forgot Who They’re Talking To … Judy Waxman, National Women’s Law Center


National Women's Law Center - I Will Not Be Denied: Protect Women's Health Care
 
 
This week is National Women’s Health Week — a time for women to remind ourselves to put our health first. Some politicians are determined to put women’s health first, too — first on the chopping block.Opponents of the health care law are dead-set on finding ways to undermine it. And, if they win, our health will be undermined, too. Watch our new video! Then, share it with your friends, family, and co-workers and ask them to join the fight to protect the law.

I Will Not Be Denied: Protect Women's Health Care
For generations, women have overcome obstacles, exceeded expectations and fought for equality. We fought discrimination in the health insurance market, where women have been considered a pre-existing condition and denied health coverage due to a previous Caesarean section or a history of domestic violence or rape. We fought to end the discriminatory practice of insurance companies charging women more than men for health coverage, simply because we are women. And we won: the health care law finally ends these odious practices.

But opponents of the health care law are working to take our victories away. We must stay vigilant to ensure these victories stay in place for generations to come. Watch the new video from our I Will NOT Be Denied™ campaign, and then share it with your friends, family, and co-workers.

Thank you for working for quality, affordable health care for women and their families.

Sincerely,

 
Judy Waxman   Judy Waxman
Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights
National Women’s Law Center
 

P.S. Your support allows us to continue to fight for women’s health care as well as work on many other critical issues. Please consider making a contribution today.

how much do you know about child soldiers?


May 2012 Newsletter

Test your knowledge of this worldwide issue by taking our quiz >

Interactive Quiz: How much do you know about child soldiers?

Every day, children fight and die in armed conflicts around the world. Who are they? Why do they join? How can we help them reclaim their lives?
Take our quiz and find out ▸

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As tensions escalate between Sudan and South Sudan, Country Director Mathieu Rouquette reports on our work in Bentiu, the recent target of multiple airstrikes.

Behind the camera of award-winning freelance photographer Toni Greaves

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