Call Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith today or send them a letter asking them to encourage Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Chairman Baucus to ensure that the birth control pricing problem is fixed on the next bill that the President is anticipated to sign.

Background
The Deficit Reduction Act, signed into law on February 8, 2006, includes a provision that adversely affects the ability of university health centers, some safety net family planning providers and some Planned Parenthood affiliates, to purchase contraceptives at a discounted, nominal price.  The provision went into effect on January 1, 2007 and is having a devastating fiscal impact on college students and low-income women.  This is affecting approximately 400,000 to 500,000 Planned Parenthood patients alone.  The unintended consequence of this legislative language is that millions of women across the country have to pay significantly more for their birth control than they have in the past.

Senator Ron Wyden
503-326-7525

Senator Gordon Smith
503-326-3386

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a result of a law enacted in January called the Deficit Reduction Act, or the "DRA"-the price of birth control pills at universities and health centers across the country has sky-rocketed. Hundreds of thousands of women across the country are losing access to birth control because they cannot afford this increase in the cost. Please encourage Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Chairman Baucus to ensure that the birth control pricing problem is remedied on the next bill the president is anticipated to sign.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 22, 2007