Singlestack
01-04-2013, 15:02
So a couple of days ago I sent a note to my rep Jared Polis demanding rejection of further gun control legislation. Here is the response I received:
*******************************************
Dear xxxx:
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for H.R. 3541, the Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue, and I apologize for any delay in my response.
H.R. 3541 was introduced in the House of Representatives with the stated aim of prohibiting selective abortions based on race or gender. Although we can all agree that no woman should be forced to have an abortion solely based on race or gender, the consequences of and motivations behind this legislation are more far-reaching and severe than the title of the bill implies. In fact, the rationale behind H.R. 3541 is based on two discriminatory claims: that Asian-American women are being encouraged by their communities to have sex-selective abortions, and that African-American women are similarly forced to have abortions based on race. Neither of these claims is factual, and both claims simply perpetuate discrimination against all women-regardless of race or ethnicity.
Instead of addressing the issue of reducing the number of unplanned pregnancies in communities across the United States, this legislation restricts the rights of women and their doctors under the guise of "anti-discrimination." By subjecting doctors to criminal penalties if the evidence shows they performed an abortion based on race or gender, H.R. 3541 makes even an ultrasound a potentially criminal offense. Rather than encouraging maternal health, this bill encourages racial profiling, and discourages women from seeking treatment and doctors from providing it.
Unfortunately, my colleagues in the House of Representatives who have shown such zeal for infringing on a woman's right to privacy have not shown the same enthusiasm for legislation that truly seeks to end discrimination. Real civil rights protections, such as the Violence Against Women Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, have either not been introduced in the House or languish in committee. I believe it is imperative that Congress debate and vote on these measures as soon as possible. In the previous Congress, I was proud to support numerous pieces of civil rights legislation that went on to become law, including the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which seeks to eliminate wage and salary discrepancies between men and women. Bills like the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act are the bills that truly move our country forward.
While I agree with you that we must work together to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies in America, I believe that the most effective way to do so is by providing both men and women with family planning and contraceptive services, comprehensive sex education and opportunities for counseling. Rather than reducing funding for these critical services, we should expand them across the country, especially into low-income communities where individuals have notably less access to care, treatment and education. Indeed, the way to reduce the number of abortions in this country is to increase access to health care for all women - not to penalize women who seek abortions or criminalize doctors for doing their jobs.
Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue. I hope my letter addresses your particular concerns. If I can be of any further assistance on this or any other issue, please do not hesitate to contact me at (303) 484-9596. I also encourage you to visit my website, www.polis.house.gov, and sign up to receive my e-newsletter.
JP/al
****************************************
*sigh* I guess I understand when people say politicians are out of touch....
*******************************************
Dear xxxx:
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for H.R. 3541, the Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue, and I apologize for any delay in my response.
H.R. 3541 was introduced in the House of Representatives with the stated aim of prohibiting selective abortions based on race or gender. Although we can all agree that no woman should be forced to have an abortion solely based on race or gender, the consequences of and motivations behind this legislation are more far-reaching and severe than the title of the bill implies. In fact, the rationale behind H.R. 3541 is based on two discriminatory claims: that Asian-American women are being encouraged by their communities to have sex-selective abortions, and that African-American women are similarly forced to have abortions based on race. Neither of these claims is factual, and both claims simply perpetuate discrimination against all women-regardless of race or ethnicity.
Instead of addressing the issue of reducing the number of unplanned pregnancies in communities across the United States, this legislation restricts the rights of women and their doctors under the guise of "anti-discrimination." By subjecting doctors to criminal penalties if the evidence shows they performed an abortion based on race or gender, H.R. 3541 makes even an ultrasound a potentially criminal offense. Rather than encouraging maternal health, this bill encourages racial profiling, and discourages women from seeking treatment and doctors from providing it.
Unfortunately, my colleagues in the House of Representatives who have shown such zeal for infringing on a woman's right to privacy have not shown the same enthusiasm for legislation that truly seeks to end discrimination. Real civil rights protections, such as the Violence Against Women Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, have either not been introduced in the House or languish in committee. I believe it is imperative that Congress debate and vote on these measures as soon as possible. In the previous Congress, I was proud to support numerous pieces of civil rights legislation that went on to become law, including the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which seeks to eliminate wage and salary discrepancies between men and women. Bills like the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act are the bills that truly move our country forward.
While I agree with you that we must work together to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies in America, I believe that the most effective way to do so is by providing both men and women with family planning and contraceptive services, comprehensive sex education and opportunities for counseling. Rather than reducing funding for these critical services, we should expand them across the country, especially into low-income communities where individuals have notably less access to care, treatment and education. Indeed, the way to reduce the number of abortions in this country is to increase access to health care for all women - not to penalize women who seek abortions or criminalize doctors for doing their jobs.
Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue. I hope my letter addresses your particular concerns. If I can be of any further assistance on this or any other issue, please do not hesitate to contact me at (303) 484-9596. I also encourage you to visit my website, www.polis.house.gov, and sign up to receive my e-newsletter.
JP/al
****************************************
*sigh* I guess I understand when people say politicians are out of touch....