Senate Dems Unveil Bill To Boost Access To Emergency Contraception For Rape Victims

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chair of the Senate Budget Committee, joined at left by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., meet with reporters to urge passage of legislation to restore unemployment insurance bene... Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chair of the Senate Budget Committee, joined at left by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., meet with reporters to urge passage of legislation to restore unemployment insurance benefits which expired Dec. 28, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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A group of Senate Democrats introduced legislation on Tuesday which would require federally funded hospitals—under Medicare or Medicaid—to provide emergency contraception to rape victims who request it.

The “Emergency Contraception Access and Education Act of 2014” was co-sponsored by Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

It says a contraceptive drug must be provided if it is approved by the FDA and “prevents pregnancy primarily by preventing or delaying ovulation, and does not terminate an established pregnancy.”

The bill also requires the hospitals to submit data about emergency contraceptives.

Democrats are actively using the issue of contraceptive coverage as a political cudgel against Republicans in the run-up to the November midterm elections.

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Notable Replies

  1. First GOPer/Teatroll to claim either of these things wins a cookie:

    (a) this will encourage rapists because they won’t have to fear child support payments and/or

    (b) this will encourage drunk college sluts to make specious accusations of sexual assault against upstanding young frat-WASPs in order to get free baby-no-no pills and/or

    © something something Benghazi.

  2. Avatar for chammy chammy says:

    I really did miss you Sniffit

  3. Down with this law! Rape victims should be victimized twice, because They Were Asking For It.

  4. “Emergency Contraception Access and Education Act of 2014”

    Yeah baby! The two things that the GOP hates most - Contraception and education!

    But of course there will have to be an exception if you’re raped by a priest, or the CEO of Hobby Lobby.

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