Feminist Women's Health Center
Feminist Advocacy Network (FAN) Alert

March 26, 2012
URGENT: Update:  HB 954 on GA Senate Calendar next Monday, March 26 - Don't Strip Women's Medical Decision-making  





 Update:  The Senate begins today at 1 p.m. and there are 30 bills on the calendar today. Our prediction is that HB 954 could be on the floor for debate in the late afternoon or early evening.  If you want to watch the debate live, click the link here

 

In the meantime, thanks so much for everyone's letters, calls and faxes.  There is still time if you haven't had a chance to contact your Senator and the Lt. Governor yet -- your voice and efforts are vitally important to defeating HB 954.

 

Dear , 

   
We've called, we've faxed. We've emailed, we've written letters. We lobbied and we walked around the Capitol to show how fed up we are of legislation that puts politics above women's health.

 

On March 19, the Senate Health & Human Services Committee voted by a voice vote to pass HB 954,  despite testimony by women, doctors, perinatologists, hi risk-OB-Gyn's, and law professors -- who all rose in opposition to this misguided bill.

 

Supportive Senators introduced amendments to protect the health of women in Georgia, and all were shot down by close margins in a voice vote.  The Committee Chair Renee Unterman (R-Buford) even refused to officially record all of these votes, except for the first amendment. 
 
Now, your action is more urgent than ever.  HB 954 is scheduled to go to the Senate floor on Monday, March 26.  HB 954, if passed into law, will hurt real women and families at their most critical personal moments -- see some of those stories of women and families to the right.   

 

Please urge your Senator and the Lt. Governor to oppose HB 954. Let them know that you don't want the Georgia legislature to strip women's medical decision-making at their most critical and personal moments. 

  

If you need more information, please email Elizabeth or Janelle or call us at 404.248. 5445.    

 

 Your voice and efforts are vitally important to defeating HB 954, and we urge you to take the following actions.  

  • Contact your own State Senator and the Lt. Governor to oppose HB 954.  The message and contact information is below.
  • If you are available, please come down to  the state capitol to watch the debate on the Senate floor live. Please email Elizabeth or Janelle and let us know you are coming and we will send you further instructions.  The Georgia Senate starts at 1 p.m. on Monday.  If you can, please wear black.

Thank you!!  Let's not let the Georgia legislature second-guess the decisions of women and families like those described to the right! 

state capitol photo

 HB 954, if it becomes law, would affect real women and families like these women(some names changed to preserve  anonymity):

  

* Beth is a 40-year old mom, diagnosed with heart disease after the birth of her son.  She learned that another pregnancy could shave 10 years off her life.  Without a full health exception that considers the risk that pregnancy poses to Beth, she and women like her could be forced to carry a dangerous pregnancy to term.

 

* Jane is 14-year old pregnant teen who was molested for years by a family member, who had threatened to kill her family if she told anyone.  Fortunately Jane's mother and the police became aware of this horrendous crime perpectuated upon Jane. She came to Atlanta with her Mom & a sympathetic law enforcement officer from a nearby state more than 20 weeks pregnant to obtain an abortion by doctors who have the expertise to treat patients in these painful situations.

 

* Anna and her husband were thrilled to become pregnant.  However at the anatomy scan near 20th week, they found out that their baby had a fatal condition--his kidneys would never develop.  The doctor told them that if their son could survive the rest of the pregnancy, he would suffocate slowly as soon as he was born. They decided to terminate & she said that there are no words to describe the heartbreak that occurs when you switch from planning for your baby's future to the reality that he cannot live.  

    

Contact Your Own Georgia Senator
 

on Friday and Monday

HB 954 is on the calendar, but we don't know when the vote will occur, so please call or fax as soon as possible.  Thank you! 

  

the_power_of_one_voice
Please urge them strongly to vote "NoI oppose HB 954 because one size fits all legislation binds the hands of doctors who need to be able to assess a woman's condition from a medical perspective - not a political one. Medical decisions should be made between a woman, her family & her doctor."

 

To find your Georgia State Senator,please visit Project Vote Smart .  Your Georgia State Senator is listed under the State Legislative category. You will need a 9-digit zip code if you have the possibility of two Georgia Rep's in the same zip code, please visit here for the 9-digit zip code: