Last week, President Obama called on all Americans to speak to one another “in a way that heals, not a way that wounds.” I welcome the president’s call for healing. We have a great need for this in America today. 

Instead of working on JOBS and the Economy, the new House Leadership is pushing proposals that will take Health Care away from women. 

The VOTE is Wednesday: Please tell your Representative to stand up for women’s health and vote AGAINST repealing health care reform.

Unfortunately, even with the president’s hopeful words still ringing in our ears, the House leadership is moving forward with an agenda that will harm American women. Tomorrow, they will bring up a vote to repeal the health care law which is already expanding health care coverage for the women of our country.

Tomorrow’s vote is just the beginning. If repealing the health care law were not enough, the new House leaders are pursuing a ban on private health insurance plans that include abortion coverage — a ban that is even more extreme than the Stupak abortion ban we defeated last year.

Members of Congress need to hear from us now, before they take health care benefits away from women across the country.

The nation thoroughly debated health care reform for two full years, and with the steadfast support of people from across the country — including millions of Planned Parenthood supporters like you — the final law marked a historic victory for women’s health.

Right now in your town, there are women who were uninsured and who now have health insurance because of the health care law, there are women who have better access to contraception and cancer screenings. In fact, the law expands all women’s ability to get affordable cancer screenings and other preventive services. It also holds the promise of giving women access to prescription birth control without co-pays. These are important contributions to making life better for women in every community. But House leaders want to take all of that away.

We can’t let them. Tell your representative to stand up for women’s health and vote against the repeal of health care reform.

It is unconscionable for anti-choice politicians who were elected on a promise to fix the economy to use their position to deny women access to reproductive health care, including abortion. But that’s exactly what they are trying to do.

The wish list of anti-choice activists is a mile long, and their allies on Capitol Hill are going to do all they can to satisfy their demands. That means relentlessly chipping away at a women’s right to choose. It means reversing all the progress we’ve made in recent years. It means defunding Planned Parenthood, and undermining women’s health at every turn.

If they win this fight to repeal health care reform, they’ll only be emboldened to push their agenda further. We have to stop them now — and remain vigilant in the weeks and months to come.

Please, take action today — and tell your friends, your family, and everyone you know who cares about women’s health to join us as we continue to stand up for women’s health each and every day.

Thank you so very much for standing with us and the women, men, and teens that rely on Planned Parenthood.

Sincerely,

Cecile Richards, President

Planned Parenthood Federation of America