Birth Control Matters is an effort to make no-cost prescription birth control available so that all women can use the method that works best for them and to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.

Affordable prescription birth control is an essential part of health care for millions of women.  The average woman spends 30 years of her life trying to avoid getting pregnant. More than one-third of women voters in America have struggled with the cost of prescription birth control at some point in their lives, and, as a result, have used birth control inconsistently.

Making birth control available at no cost is the single most important step we can take to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.

The new health care reform law represents the single biggest opportunity to advance women’s health in 45 years.  To make this opportunity a reality, the law must require health plans to provide prescription birth control to women with no co-pays, as part of the prevention provision.  This would be a huge step forward for America – and especially for the many of women in this nation who cannot afford to pay for prescription contraception.

The time has come to provide birth control at no cost to every woman who wants it.

Help us raise one million voices for no-cost birth control. Sign the petition.

You and I know that providers and patients should never be targets of violence. That’s why yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Reid honored Dr. Tiller’s memory by speaking out against clinic violence.

Please thank Sen. Reid for taking a stand and honoring Dr. Tiller’s memory: http://bit.ly/aDiuTY

That’s why I signed the petition Senator Barbara Boxer has launched at www.FightForWomensHealth.com, calling for the removal of the Stupak Amendment from any bill that reaches the President’s desk. We succeeded in keeping the Stupak Amendment out of the initial Senate health care reform bill, but we knew our opponents wouldn’t give up easily — and they’re already back.

Please join me and Senator Boxer at www.FightForWomensHealth.com today!

Join us on on December 2 to help stop the abortion-coverage ban!

The House version of the health-reform bill includes the Stupak-Pitts amendment that makes it virtually impossible for private insurance companies that participate in the new system to offer abortion coverage to women. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and other anti-choice politicians have threatened to introduce a similar amendment to the Senate bill.

We cannot let Sen. Hatch and his allies block women from purchasing—even with their own money—insurance that includes abortion coverage.

That’s why we’re teaming up with other pro-choice groups to hold an event and lobby day in Washington, D.C. on December 2. If you’re in the D.C. area, we hope you’ll join us! There are other events across the country as well.

Of course, many of us can’t go to an event in person. So we’re holding an online day of action and call-in day on December 2 that anyone can join. Here are easy ways you can participate:

• Write to your senators and tell them to to stop the abortion-coverage ban.
• Call your senators. Phone calls to Congress have an even greater impact than writing messages. It’s easy and takes less than five minutes! Just call (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your senator’s office. Tell the person who answers, “I’m calling to ask the senator to oppose a ban on insurance coverage for abortion in the new health-care system.” You’ll probably be asked for your zip code. That’s it!
• Donate to help us stop the abortion-coverage ban and protect choice at all levels.
• On December 2, update your Facebook or MySpace status to “Call your senators today at (202) 224-3121 and tell them to oppose the abortion-coverage ban! Please repost this as YOUR status.”
• On Twitter? Tweet to stop the abortion coverage ban and use the hashtag #StopStupak when you write about this issue. (And, of course, follow us if you don’t already!)
• Change your profile photo or icon on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or LiveJournal to one of the graphics below. You can also feel free to add any of these graphics to your blog, or anywhere else you can think of!

For more information, click here: http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/take-action/hcr-day-of-action