CONGRESSWOMAN LOUISE SLAUGHTER

If women ever wondered why we need to elect strong women leaders: Representative Louise Slaughter’s career is the answer. As the conflict over reproductive rights in our country intensifies, Congresswoman Slaughter’s mission is to find true common sense, common ground solutions. Some politicians grandstand on the issue of abortion but offer no remedies. Others cloak themselves in safe sounding talking points. Meanwhile, Slaughter fights tirelessly to address the source of the problem; unintended pregnancy.

As House sponsor of the Prevention First Act, she has designed a 7-point plan to avert accidental pregnancies by giving the most vulnerable more protection. Her legislation will increase funding for the national family planning program for the poor (Title X), which has not seen a true budget increase in over a decade. It will also expand family planning services through Medicaid. Low-income women are at the greatest risk of experiencing an unintended pregnancy. Slaughter, by introducing laser-like solutions, targets and removes the barriers women with low income face when trying to plan their families. The Prevention First Act will end health insurance discrimination against women by mandating that prescription birth control be covered and be considered a woman’s primary health care need. Considering the average woman spends 23 years of her life trying to prevent pregnancy, this seems exceedingly reasonable. The legislation also protects victims of sexual assault from becoming impregnated by an attacker by making emergency contraception a standard part of emergency care for rape victims—an idea virtually every American supports. The legislation also restores funding to comprehensive sex education programs that have been proven to prevent teen pregnancy and STDs.

Of course, Rep. Slaughter’s work doesn’t end there. Seeing beyond national boundaries, Slaughter understands that one of the most effective ways to raise nations out of turmoil and poverty is to empower its women. Educating the world’s women strengthens families, creates healthier children, and reduces social strife. Family planning plays a critical role in empowering women. Slaughter has been a strong voice in efforts to restore the US portion of funding to UNFPA; the UN agency that delivers contraception to women living in the most impoverished regions on earth.

We know contraception prevents unintended pregnancy, we also know that too many women have a hard time accessing effective birth control. Rep. Slaughter, throughout her career, has been a fierce protector of women and has given them the ability to make their own important life decisions. For all of these reasons, we award the first Birth Control Watch Gold Star to Congresswoman Louise Slaughter.