Reproductive Rights - Fight Back
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Tracking Pregnant Women
What is it: Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) introduced a bill, S. 4296, to create a federal database, storing information on pregnant people and pregnancy services. The bill is titled More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed (MOMS) Act and is intended to support pregnant women with free government paid services. Unclear is whether the pregnancies would be listed on a NATIONAL REGISTRY.
Why it matters: Senator Britt portrayed the MOMS ACT as providing “critical support to women.” She neglected to mention in her press release that the legislation would create a website titled www.Pregnancy.gov, a federal clearinghouse featuring “resources” about anti-abortion centers, known as “crisis pregnancy centers.”
Endorsements: The MOMS Act is endorsed by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Americans United for Life, March for Life Action, the National Right to Life Committee, and the Family Policy Alliance- extreme christian pro-life organizations.
Zoom in: The bill notes that the website’s users will consent for their contact information to be used by the government, which will “conduct outreach via phone or email” to share “additional resources that would be helpful.”
Zoom out: What is the true purpose of this legislation? It seems to echo the dystopian forced pregnancy scenarios from "The Handmaid's Tale." Senator Britt's press release contains a telling detail in its second sentence: "The number of U.S. births in 2023 was the lowest since 1979, and the total fertility rate in America hit an all-time low last year." The bill explicitly prohibits any organization that "performs, induces, refers for, or counsels in favor of abortions" from receiving funding or being listed on the new Pregnancy.gov website. This includes a wide range of OB-GYN and sexual health clinics nationwide.
IN SENATOR BRITT’S WORDS: THE MOMS ACT
READ: PERIOD TRACKERS AND DATA PRIVACY
ACTION
Let’s let our Senators know that the MOMS act is an affront to women and their reproductive health and bodily autonomy. You can contact them here. Or use RESISTBOT by texting SIGN PDDNTJ to 50409 to send your Senators this message.
“I am your constituent and I want you to know about a sneaky piece of legislation called the MOMS act, S. 4296. The author is the anti abortion Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.)
The bill purports to provide resources to pregnant persons. It will actually provide resources like Crisis Pregnancy Centers, that are not medical facilities but seek only to dissuade abortion. It will collect information from those seeking help at pregnancy.gov. Personally, I don’t think it is a good idea for the government to be tracking pregnant persons in today’s anti-abortion, prosecute women, environment.
The bill also explicitly prohibits any organization that "performs, induces, refers for, or counsels in favor of abortions" from receiving funding or being listed on the new Pregnancy.gov website.
This bill is a sham as my Senator I need you to stand up for all women and vote this down. While I have your attention put an end to this nonsense and support and pass the Women’s Health Protection Act to restore the right to choose and bodily autonomy nationwide. Thank you.”
Abortion on the Ballot
Ballot measures: 8 states have a good chance of putting the Right to an Abortion on the Ballot in 2024. Take a look at which states.
Arizona: A signature drive is underway and needs to gather 384,000 valid signatures by July 4. AZ’s ballot measure is a constitutional right to abortion in Arizona, until fetal viability, with later abortions allowed to protect a woman’s physical or mental health. Read more
Florida: Advocates collected nearly a million signatures to put a state constitutional amendment to legalize abortion (until viability) on the ballot.
Colorado: The CO ballot measure adds constitutional protections for abortion, including requiring Medicaid and private health insurers to cover it. Enough signatures have placed it on the 2024 ballot.
Maryland: Maryland voters will vote in November 2024 to enshrine the right to abortion in the state’s constitution. Enough signatures have been secured. Read more
Arkansas: An amendment to allow abortion in the first 18 weeks of gestation is proposed. It will allow abortion later in pregnancy in cases of rape, incest, threats to the woman’s health or life, or if the fetus is unlikely to survive birth. Ballot advocates must collect 90,704 signatures from registered voters by July 5. Read more
Missouri: Missouri abortion rights advocates turned in 380,000 signatures more than twice the required 171,000 - for a measure approving a constitutional amendment to guarantee abortion until viability. Read more
Nebraska: Advocates are collecting 125,000 signatures by July 5 to put a constitutional amendment before voters to protect abortion rights until fetal viability. Read more
Nevada: Nevada’s abortion amendment provides abortion access until fetal viability or to protect the health of the pregnant person. It would be enshrined in the state constitution. In April, supporters surpassed the 110,000 signatures needed to place the amendment on the ballot in 2024. Read more
Resources
Find My Elected Officials
Contact State and Federal Representatives - phone and email
Healthcare Advocacy (Us) Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare - Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Program
One Payer States
Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
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