Message from Obama

[Bjornsdotter]

Dear Bjornsdotter:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your support for legislation that would expand access to reproductive health services. I understand and share your perspective on this critical issue.

I am a co-sponsor of the Putting Prevention First Act, or S. 20, which was introduced by Senator Harry Reid. This bill seeks to expand access to preventive health care services that help reduce unintended pregnancy, reduce the number of abortions, and improve access to women's health care. We can and must do more to ensure that every woman in every part of our country has equal access to quality family planning services. Government policy should place a higher priority on encouraging a variety of alternatives to abortion. I am, for example, a strong advocate of proposals that will make adoption easier and more affordable. Additionally, I believe access to education, counseling and reproductive health services should be expanded.

I also understand the concern that abstinence-only programs are doing a serious disservice to our young people. While it is useful to raise awareness of the virtues of abstinence, that should not be a substitute for providing truthful, medically accurate and age appropriate information about contraception, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and reproductive health in general.

The Equity in Prescription Insurance Contraceptive Coverage Act, or S. 1214, introduced by Senator Snowe in early June, prohibits group health insurance plans and providers from restricting coverage of contraceptive medications, devices and outpatient services. Further, the bill prohibits providers from restricting eligibility based on the use of contraceptives and from penalizing health care professionals for prescribing or encouraging contraception. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for review.

I will support this bill should it come to the Senate floor. In my view, a woman's decision to use birth control, including emergency contraception, should be between her and her doctor -- period. Of course, insurance companies play a major role in facilitating health care, and their coverage plans should be based on the best interests of the patient, and not on personal ideologies. I would hope that even those opposed to abortion would be able to find common ground over preventing unwanted pregnancies and making reproductive health care more widely available to women everywhere.

Again, thank you for sharing your concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future on this or any issue of concern to you.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator