Charlotte Cassel, Intern

The NWLC interns are ready for a summer of advocacy after spending an inspiring day with some of the most prominent leaders in the reproductive rights field at the recent Reproductive Law & Policy 101 Training. Hosted by NWLC and Law Students for Reproductive Justice (LSRJ), the annual training brought together over 50 law and graduate interns from various D.C. organizations. Sessions covered an array of timely reproductive health issues and included both substantive and skills-building components. 

The day kicked off with introductory comments from current Georgetown Women's Law & Public Policy fellow and chief coordinator for the event, Shari Inniss-Grant (NWLC) and current LSRJ fellows Jeryl Hayes (The Black Women’s Health Imperative) and Christine Poquiz (The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum). They shared the goal that has guided the history of the reproductive justice movement and the related work of both NWLC and LSRJ — that women have the right to have a child, to not have a child, and to parent the children they have. 

Imagine being a twenty-something year old woman, caring for a toddler, working to make ends meet, and finding yourself facing an unintended pregnancy. Who would you want to talk to? Your partner? Your doctor?  Maybe your friends? Siblings? Parents? Religious leaders? Would you want this guy to have a say in what you can and cannot do?

Last week, the Governor of Iowa indicated that he will sign the state budget, which includes a provision giving him the final decision making authority over who can and cannot receive Medicaid funds to cover the cost of an abortion. He will now have the authority to review each and every individual’s case separately. Since 1976, federal law has restricted Medicaid coverage of abortion.