GOP Changes Strategy—Supports Birth Control!*

*For horses. Not humans.

This week the House of Representatives has been debating H.R.1, the bill that would fund the government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011. The proposed budget makes devastating cuts to programs upon which women and their families rely.

One of the most devastating cuts is the elimination of the Title X family planning program, which provides access to contraception, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, cancer screenings, annual exams, and many other preventive services. This program, which was established over 40 years ago under President Nixon, helps fund 4,500 clinics across the country. These clinics offer vital health care services and reach over 5 million men and women, many of whom are low-income and use Title X clinics as their primary source of health care.

In addition to this cut, members of Congress are also offering amendments to H.R.1 to further restrict women’s access to health care, taking particular aim at their ability to access contraception. They want to eliminate all funding for Planned Parenthood clinics. They want to stop coverage of contraceptives for millions of women on Medicaid. And, they want to go back to a controversial Bush-era regulation that allows providers to refuse a wide range of health care services, information, counseling, and referrals.

So imagine my surprise when I learned that Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) was offering an amendment to promote the use of contraception. But upon closer inspection, Rep. Burton’s amendment is not as good as it seems. You see, Rep. Burton isn’t advocating for women’s access to contraception. He’s advocating for access to contraception for horses. HORSES. I’ll let that sink in a minute.

Since the 112th Congress has come into session, the House leadership has launched an alarming attack on issues related to women’s health. First they attempted an outright repeal of the Affordable Care Act, then they sought to limit some rape survivors’ access to abortion services and now they are working to limit our ability to access contraception. But in the same breath they are considering promoting the use of contraception for horses.

Just when I thought I’d seen everything. They’ll never cease to amaze me.

Take action and tell your members of Congress that women, not horses need access to contraception. Tell them to support Title X and to vote NO on H.R.1 and to also to oppose the harmful amendments that put women’s health at risk.