The Senate will soon begin debating its version of health care reform. This is our opportunity to ensure the needs of women and young people continue to be front and center in the reform debate.

In the House, the Stupak-Pitts Amendment passed last minute in the House version of health care reform. It bars not only federal insurance from covering abortion, but private insurers as well. If language like Stupak’s makes it into the Senate bill, abortion will become an out-of-pocket expense — the only legal procedure to have this sort of restriction on it. Rent, utilities, tuition and basic insurance premiums are already too difficult for working people and students to juggle. Paying out-of-pocket for health care promised as part of reform is unfair. So what can we do about it?

Join Feminist Activists at ISU/Ames and Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa Call-In Day of Action this Wednesday. Meet us in the free speech zone from 1–3 p.m. in front of Parks Library for a script, or call 1-888-423-5983 and talk to your senators’ office.

Step one, ask your senators to keep an anti-choice amendment like Stupak’s from ending up in their bill. Step two, remind your senator to strike down the Hatch Amendment. Our legislators need to know we’re still watching. Health care reform promises to bring better care to all Americans. Let’s let Congress know we will not sit idly by and let women and young people be sacrificed in the name of compromise, votes, deadlines and budgets. We need to stand up and make sure what we deserve — access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care and information — is included in the Senate bill.

Our senators say they want to hear from us, so let’s give them something to talk about.

See you Wednesday.

Kendra Malone

Graduate Student in Anthropology

Women’s Studies Coordinator