Tag Archives: Barack Obama

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Harmful Bush-era “Conscienc​e” Rule Rescinded


A few years ago, we asked you to imagine this: A woman with cervical cancer is not given information about the option to extract and freeze her eggs before her cancer treatment because her gynecologist has a religiously based opposition to infertility treatment.

You helped us oppose this Bush administration “conscience” rule by sending thousands of comments and emails to the administration. The rule, which was in effect since 2008 encouraged providers to deny access to abortion and contraception, and treatment for infertility, substance abuse and HIV/AIDS in ways the law does not allow.

When President Obama took office he proposed rescinding this harmful rule, and again you responded by sending over 5,000 comments in support of removing this restriction. We are pleased to report that the Obama administration announced late last week that it was rescinding dangerous provisions of this rule. We couldn’t have done it without your help and support!

But the battle over women’s health continues and we need your help now. Please make an urgent donation today to support the Center’s work on women’s health and other issues important to women and their families.

Please make an urgent donation today to support the Center’s work on women’s health and other issues important to women and their families.http://action.nwlc.org/site/R?i=WAE9P7vrbxWLu20UOP3Kew..

The new House leadership has unleashed alarming attacks on women’s health and reproductive rights, and if they have their way, women’s access to health care will be set back decades. The House voted to repeal the new health care law, which is already helping women and families. Now House leadership wants to put into law parts of the regulation which was just rescinded. For example, exempting hospitals from requirements to treat women in need of emergency abortion care, even if they may die without it. They want to raise taxes on potentially millions of individuals and small businesses that keep the insurance plans they currently have if they include coverage of abortion. And on top of it all, this past week they made it clear that they are launching an all-out assault on women’s access to contraception and other family planning services.

For nearly 40 years, the National Women’s Law Center has led the way for women and families — in the classroom, in the workplace and in society as a whole. We’re up against what is already one of the most challenging sessions of Congress in recent history, but with our team of experts and your help we know we can win, no matter how much the other side pushes its dangerous message.

Your generous donation allows us to continue to stand up for women and their families. Please support the Center’s important work today. http://action.nwlc.org/site/R?i=vP-vEw_2yVfPMfAafWcfmQ..

Your generous donation allows us to continue to stand up for women and their families. Please support the Center’s important work today.

On behalf of women and families everywhere, thank you for your generous help.

Sincerely,

Judy Waxman

Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights

National Women’s Law Center

P.S. Learn more about Obama’s decision to rescind this harmful Bush-era regulation in our new fact sheet.

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Why Wisconsin matters for President Obama (via Anderson Cooper 360)

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CNN Political Unit Washington (CNN) — President Obama knows that the ongoing budget protests in Wisconsin are just round one in the national battle for control of the budget message. So he’s reportedly sent his outside political team, Organizing for America, to help build even larger crowds. It’s something that drew ire from House Speaker John Boehner on Friday. “His political organization is colluding with special-interest allies across the cou … Read More

via Anderson Cooper 360

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Tell Obama: Veto attacks on EPA funding


Call the White House: President Obama must tell Congress he’ll veto attacks on the Clean Air Act Call now. Obama can stop attempts to block EPA funding. Take action!

Call the White House at (202) 456-1111.

Sample script: ” Hi, my name is… and I am calling to ask President Obama to uphold his commitment and tell Congress he will veto any legislation that strips the Clean Air Act of its authority to limit climate pollution. ”

Congress will likely pass a Republican spending bill that puts the Clean Air Act on the chopping block.

Their proposed continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through the fiscal year includes massive cuts to the EPA, and blocks the Clean Air Act’s authority to set limits on carbon pollution.

Top administration officials have said, as recently as two weeks ago, that Obama would veto any bill that takes away the Clean Air Act’s climate authority. 1 But Congress needs to hear it directly from the President.

Can you call the White House and ask President Obama to tell Congress he’ll veto any spending bill that undermines the Clean Air Act?

Here’s the number to call and a sample script:

Number: (202) 456-1111 (Lines close at 5 pm EST)

Script: “Hi, my name is… and I am calling to ask President Obama to uphold his commitment and tell Congress he will veto any legislation that strips the Clean Air Act of its authority to limit climate pollution.

On Tuesday, the Obama Administration issued a statement that the President would veto the spending bill if it undermines “critical priorities” or “national security” 2 — but didn’t indicate if the Clean Air Act’s climate authority was included as a deal breaker.

The President needs to explicitly affirm this commitment ASAP.

To avoid government shutdown, the final bill must be passed by March 3rd. And as the House debates this bill, Senate Democrats are already working on their version.

While a much different bill will likely emerge from the Senate, the inclusion of provisions to defund the Clean Air Act is a possibility. Conservative and coal-state Democrats like Jay Rockefeller are actively working to delay the EPA’s climate authority, and more progressive Senators facing re-election, like Sherrod Brown and Debbie Stabenow, are still on the fence.

If Obama doesn’t draw a line in the sand, Senate Democrats could cave. But if the President makes his support explicit, he’ll encourage Senate Democrats to stand up for the Clean Air Act, and can veto the law if they fail to do so.

Please call the White House and urge the president to make explicit his commitment to veto attacks on the Clean Air Act.

Thanks for working to protect clean air.

Elijah Zarlin, Campaign Manager

CREDO Action from Working Assets

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On the Budget: A Tale of Two Visions


Special Report on the Budget

A Tale of Two Visions

This week we saw two radically different visions for America‘s national priorities. President Obama’s budget for Fiscal Year 2012 generally protects key programs for women and girls, although it makes some painful cuts. The House Republican plan for funding — and de-funding — the federal government for the remainder of 2011 would, by contrast, irresponsibly slash funding for a wide range of programs vital to the well-being of women and their families, with consequences that I can only describe as devastating. Read NWLC’s program-by-program analysis of the competing plans >>

Joan Entmacher

Vice President, Family Economic Security

National Women’s Law Center

Issue by Issue

Explore each of the issues below to learn how they would be affected:

Health & Reproductive Rights — Read More>>

Early Childhood Care and Development — Read More>>

Education — Read More>>

Employment and Training — Read More>>

Assistance to Unemployed Workers — Read More>>

Civil Rights and Worker Protections — Read More>>

Tax Benefits for Working Families — Read More>>

Safety Net Programs — Read More>>

Violence Against Women — Read More>>

Social Security and Retirement — Read More>>

Tax Reforms — Read More>>

Additional Fact Sheets and Resources

House Republican Spending Cuts Devastating to Women, Families and the Economy >>

Gingrey H.R. 1 Amendment Will Make It Harder for Low-Income Women to Obtain Access to Contraceptives >>

Fleming H.R. 1 Amendment Will Jeopardize Patient Access to Health Care Services and Information >>

Oppose the Pence H.R. 1 Amendment that Will Jeopardize Women’s Access to Basic Health Care >>

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Take Action: Women and Families in Danger


The Republican House leadership is proposing major cuts in programs that affect women and families. The House is expected to vote on this “continuing resolution” later this week.

Please help us fight back by sending a clear message to the House of Representatives — Vote against the Continuing Resolution.   www.nwlc.org

The Continuing Resolution for FY 2011 proposed by House Republican leaders cuts supports for women and girls at every stage of life. It:

Eliminates the Title X family planning programs that provide funding for contraception and other preventive care to over five million women and men each year

Cuts Head Start and child care for 368,000 children

Cuts millions from nutrition programs for pregnant women and their children

Cuts funding for prenatal care

Eliminates funding for the Women’s Educational Equity Program that helps schools comply with Title IX

Cuts funding for Pell grants, which help low-income women afford college, by more than $800 per student

Cuts funding needed to keep Social Security offices open and for meals, housing, and other supports for elderly women

In addition, the Continuing Resolution also cuts funding for education, housing, food safety, environmental protection, and more.

Take action today and make sure your Representative opposes these drastic cuts.  www.nwlc.org

The debate over next year’s budget also moved into high gear this week, with the release of President Obama’s budget for Fiscal Year 2012. We’ll be sending you information shortly about what the President’s budget would mean for women and their families.

The fights over national priorities, for this year and years to come, will be tough. We’re counting on you!

Sincerely,

Joan Entmacher

Vice President, Family Economic Security

National Women’s Law Center