Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights

Judy Waxman is the Vice President of Health and Reproductive Rights at the National Women's Law Center. She pioneers advocacy, policy and educational strategies to promote the quality and availability of health care, including reproductive choice, for American women. Prior to joining the National Women's Law Center, Ms. Waxman served as Deputy Executive Director at Families USA for over a decade. In that capacity, she worked to achieve high quality, affordable health and long-term care for all Americans and was a leader on grassroots and activities on Medicaid, Medicare and other health care access legislative issues. She previously served as a Professional Staff Member with the Pepper Commission (the United States Bipartisan Commission on Comprehensive Health Care). Ms. Waxman was also an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, an attorney for the Department of Health and Human Services and served as President of the Board of Directors of the Women's Medical Center, a nonprofit health clinic. She served on advisory committees for publications of the Alan Guttmacher Institute and the Older Women's League (OWL), and was the Chair of the Health Task Force of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and of the Leadership Conference of Aging Organizations. She holds a law degree from American University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Miami, in Florida.

Expert in: Abortion, Pharmacy Refusals, Emergency Contraception, Health Insurance, Barriers to Reproductive Care, Religious Restrictions, Family Planning, Health Care Reform, Medicaid & Other Public Funding, Pregnancy Rights, Report Card on Women's Health, Health Care & Reproductive Rights

My Take

They Forgot Who They're Talking To

Posted by Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights | Posted on: May 16, 2012 at 10:09 am

This week is National Women's Health Week — a time for women to remind ourselves to put our health first. Some politicians are determined to put women's health first, too — first on the chopping block.

Opponents of the health care law are dead-set on finding ways to undermine it. And, if they win, our health will be undermined, too. Watch our new video! Then, share it with your friends, family, and co-workers and ask them to join the fight to protect the law.

For generations, women have overcome obstacles, exceeded expectations and fought for equality.

What My Mom Told Me: Bacon Grease for Birth Control

Posted by Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights | Posted on: May 12, 2012 at 04:42 pm

This blog post is a part of NWLC’s Mother’s Day 2012 blog series. For all our Mother’s Day posts, please click here.

Don’t think moms talk to daughters about birth control? Check out a video of my daughter and I discussing how difficult it used to be to access birth control.

It's been nearly fifty years since the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Connecticut v Griswold struck down state bans on birth control.

House Votes Thursday on Deep Cuts to Health Care, Food Stamps, Child Care and More

Posted by

Joan Entmacher, Vice President for Family Economic Security

Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights

| Posted on: May 09, 2012 at 12:03 pm

Take Action: Tell Your Representative to Vote NO

Protect millions of women and families from the harsh spending cuts the House is voting on this week.

They just never stop.

Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed the budget blueprint introduced by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). The Ryan budget calls for drastic cuts in programs that low-income women and their families depend on to meet their basic needs — and trillions of dollars in additional tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and corporations.

This week, the House will vote on a bill to implement the Ryan budget by slashing Medicaid, Food Stamps (SNAP), child care, and more, and dismantling the Affordable Care Act.

Please contact your Representative TODAY and tell him or her to vote against these devastating cuts!

The bill the House is scheduled to vote on this Thursday, H.R. 4966, would:

Let states reduce eligibility standards for Medicaid, which women disproportionately rely on for health care coverage, and for the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Dismantle the Affordable Care Act, by eliminating funding for state health exchanges and community-level preventive and public health initiatives, and by reducing access to affordable health insurance coverage by discouraging the use of premium tax credits.

Terminate the Social Services Block Grant, which gives billions of dollars to states to support seniors and children, including critical funding for child care assistance.

Cut Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits, reducing monthly benefits almost immediately for about 44 million people and denying benefits altogether for as many as 2 million more.

Eliminate eligibility for the refundable Child Tax Credit for many immigrant families.

Moms Know Best

Posted by Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights | Posted on: May 07, 2012 at 03:14 pm

Our Fight

Ask your mother, grandmother, aunt, or another loved one this Mother's Day about the challenges she had accessing birth control. Then, share her story or yours with us!

What challenges did I face accessing birth control when I was younger? My doctor told me taking the Pill could possibly kill me — apparently thinking this additional "fact" would help me make a more informed medical decision.

I'm still alive — so I guess he was wrong. And that doctor was not alone in putting up barriers for women trying to access reproductive health care.

TELL US: Have you ever asked your mom, aunt, grandmother, or another loved one in your life what challenges she had gaining access to birth control? We want to hear the stories!

It's been nearly fifty years since the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Connecticut v Griswold striking down state bans on birth control. Since then, contraception has become so central to women’s lives that 98 percent of us use it at some point during our reproductive years. Yet, politicians still re-litigate access to affordable contraception and other women’s health care needs.

Picture This: Health Care Law Saves Women's Lives

Posted by Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights | Posted on: May 03, 2012 at 10:41 am

Death by a million cuts. That's the plan of some members of Congress who have held hearings and votes to cut programs in the health care law. And some of these cuts go to the heart of women's health.

They just don’t get it. We need to show — literally show — them why the health care law is important to women and their families. Join our photo blog and tell our leaders — I Will NOT Be Denied™!

Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights

My Take

They Forgot Who They're Talking To

What My Mom Told Me: Bacon Grease for Birth Control

House Votes Thursday on Deep Cuts to Health Care, Food Stamps, Child Care and More

Take Action: Tell Your Representative to Vote NO

Moms Know Best

Our Fight

Picture This: Health Care Law Saves Women's Lives

How You Can Help

Follow Us on the Web

Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights

My Take

They Forgot Who They're Talking To

What My Mom Told Me: Bacon Grease for Birth Control

House Votes Thursday on Deep Cuts to Health Care, Food Stamps, Child Care and More

Take Action: Tell Your Representative to Vote NO

Moms Know Best

Our Fight

Picture This: Health Care Law Saves Women's Lives

How You Can Help

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Follow Us on the Web