WASHINGTON, D.C. – With reproductive rights increasingly under assault by the Trump Administration, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker have re-introduced a bill to protect women’s access to birth control.

No one should be able to interfere with a woman’s health care decisions, but sadly, there have been reports of pharmacies in at least 25 states that have refused to fill a prescription for birth control. The Access to Birth Control (ABC) Act would ensure that women have access to contraception at a pharmacy without delay. It also ensures that pharmacies do not operate an environment where customers are intimidated, threatened, or harassed when seeking access to contraception.

“We find ourselves at a moment where we must re-fight old battles we thought had been won. Unfortunately, we again must stop those who are dead-set on pushing a radical political agenda that seeks to turn back the clock on half-a-century of progress on women’s health care rights,” said Sen. Menendez. “I am pleased to join Senator Booker once again in introducing this important legislation which will ensure women are able to access their contraceptive of choice at the pharmacy of choice without fear of intimidation or harassment.”

“Every woman should have affordable and timely access to birth control – it’s an essential part of health care,” Senator Booker said. “Protecting this access is more important than ever under the Trump Administration’s continued attacks on women’s health care. Our bill ensures that women have autonomy over their health and family planning decisions.”

The Access to Birth Control Act is cosponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Al Franken (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The Access to Birth Control Act is supported by the following organizations:

Advocates for Youth, American Association of University Women, American Civil Liberties Union, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Black Women’s Health Imperative, Catholics for Choice, Center for Reproductive Rights, Guttmacher Institute, In Our Own Voice, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, National Council of Jewish Women, National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, National Women’s Law Center, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Population Connection Action Fund, Population Institute, and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS).

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