NLIRH meets with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

On Friday, June 26th, 2009, NLIRH, along with other advocacy organizations, met with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and her staff regarding the status of reproductive health care in health care reform and her commitment to reproductive health care issues. NLIRH submitted its priorities for health care reform to senior HHS staff members.

Women and Immigrants --- left on the sidelines of health care reform

Outrageous, that’s the phrase that came to mind as we watched the health care reform debates over the weekend. While health care reform passed a hurdle in the House of Representatives, women and immigrants were left on the sidelines.

What happened???

    •    In an effort to pass health care reform, Congress included an amendment that singled out and banned most abortions from all public and private health plans in the insurance exchange.  Women who think they may need an abortion in the future would be required to buy an additional insurance “abortion rider” with their own personal funds for coverage.

    •    Under the House bill, undocumented immigrants can buy into the public health insurance exchange with their own money. But, they are prevented from receiving any subsidies, affordability credits, or receive federal Medicaid.

    •    The 5-year ban on legal residents accessing public health benefits, including Medicaid, also remained intact.

Essentially politicians are saying that under current health care reform, women would have to plan for an unplanned pregnancy. 

Update on Health Care Reform, June 2009

Congress has recently launched a formal debate for reforming the ailing U.S. health care system. A Senate committee is currently considering a comprehensive bill backed by Democrats and the Obama administration. In the House, hearings on the Tri Committee Proposal, a single health care reform bill, are scheduled for this week. Both chambers are striving to vote on bills before the August recess in order that the conference committee can negotiate a compromise and send it to President Obama by October.

NLIRH Testified in Support of New York City Bill Exposing Crisis Pregnancy Centers

On Tuesday, November 16, 2010, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) testified at the New York City Council hearing in support for a piece of legislation that would require crisis pregnancy centers, or limited-service pregnancy centers, to disclose on all signage and advertising that they do not provide contraception or abortion services, or referrals to either. 

The health care reform fight continues, but your voices are being heard!

The ongoing effort to reform our health care system received a shock on Tuesday with Scott Brown's upset win against Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts Senate election race to replace the late Edward M. Kennedy Jr.. This means that Democrats no longer have the filibuster-proof 60-seat majority to pass health care reform as planned, and are currently in the process of re-assessing their efforts and strategies.

Several options have been put forward, but it is as-of-yet unclear what strategy will prevail. The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, has already announced that the House will not adopt the Senate bill, a strategy that would have avoided another vote in the Senate. The Senate version of the health care reform legislation includes the problematic Nelson-Casey provision that would place tremendous bureaucratic obstacles for abortion to be included in insurance packages in the Exchange. Additionally, the Senate bill would not allow undocumented persons to purchase health insurance from the Exchange with their own money. Another option, one put forward by President Obama, would be to pass a smaller, pared-down bill that encompasses some "core elements" of the reforms currently being proposed. Yet another option would rely on the budget reconciliation process. What has become clear, however, is that lawmakers are operating under different circumstances than they were before the Massachusetts election results.

Staff from the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) visited the offices of key legislators this week, and we will continue to work towards the best possible package. Legislators said they received a record number of phone calls and letters from our activists on the ground and in their districts. We must sincerely thank you for your support and continued hard work - your voices are being heard.

Seeking our Next Dynamic and Visionary Leader

Following an exceptional eight years leading the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, Silvia Henriquez is stepping down as Executive Director in mid 2011. With unfaltering commitment and ingenuity, Silvia advanced NLIRH’s vision, elevating the voice of Latinas in the fight for reproductive rights and justice.

President Obama Unveils Health Care Proposal

President Obama unveiled his proposal for health care reform Monday in an effort to jumpstart the bill before his planned summit with both Republicans and Democrats on Thursday.

Not much has changed. President Obama sticks with the Senate bill in almost every way.  Some of items that stay the same in the President’s plan include the Senate’s recommendations regarding immigrants, Puerto Rico and abortion coverage.  The Senate version of the health care reform legislation includes the problematic Nelson-Casey provision that would place tremendous bureaucratic obstacles for abortion to be included in insurance offered in the new health care marketplace. In addition, undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens who live in Puerto Rico would not be able to use their own money to buy a plan in the new health insurance marketplace.

It's not too late to take action on health care reform!

Health care reform legislation is being debated right now, and your representatives need to hear from you!

Thanks for the budget President Obama, but isn't 33 years of Hyde enough?

On Monday, President Obama delivered the proposed budget for fiscal year 2011 to Congress.  

Happy International Women’s Day!

Every year on March 8th, we celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women – past, present and future. While every day should be International Women’s Day, today marks the day that we celebrate ordinary women as makers of herstory — a “day rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men,” the United Nations says.