Monday Monitor: March 25, 2019
By Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri | March 25, 2019, 5 p.m.
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Defunding = Discrimination
Abortion-obsessed politicians are trying to “defund” Planned Parenthood by blocking Missourians from vital preventive care, like birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment.
Let's be clear: “Defunding” is discrimination. It is singling out patients who rely on public health care programs like Medicaid and blocking them from getting their preventive care at Planned Parenthood health centers. Tell your state lawmakers to protect patients and oppose any measure that “defunds” Planned Parenthood!
MoLeg Recap
After a week of spring break, lawmakers are back in the Capitol to begin the second half of the Missouri Legislative Session.
Here is where some of the most important legislation we're watching stands:
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So. Many. Abortion. Bans. Abortion-obsessed politicians in both the House and Senate are pushing measures to restrict access to safe, legal abortion with one goal in mind: sparking a legal challenge that puts Missouri at the front of the race to overturn Roe v. Wade at the U.S. Supreme Court. The House voted to pass the most extreme abortion ban in the country: House Bill 126, with five — yes, FIVE — different abortion bans, two TRAP laws, and another restriction on minors safely accessing abortion. Across the building, the Senate is considering Senate Bill 279, which bans abortion in three separate ways of its own. Tell your state senator to vote NO and stop the bans!
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Small but important steps forward. In positive news, several good bills are progressing in the Legislature. Here are the highlights:
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HIV Modernization: House Bills 166 and 167 modernize Missouri’s HIV laws and improve public health by encouraging testing and early diagnosis. This will both increase a person's opportunity to live a long life with HIV and also drastically reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others. Both bills have had a positive hearing and await a vote in the House Committee on Health and Mental Health Policy.
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Alleviating Period Poverty: Senate Bill 443 and House Bills 741 and 747 reduce the sales tax on period products and diapers. Many Missourians with low incomes cannot afford to purchase pads, tampons, or diapers. These bills will help more Missourians afford these basic supplies. House Bill 747 has advanced the furthest so far — the House Special Committee on Aging voted unanimously to pass it. The next step is debate before the full House of Representatives.
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Maternal Mortality Review Board: House Bill 664 and Senate Bill 480 put the Maternal Mortality Review Board into state law. The Board reviews pregnancy-related deaths and recommends changes to improve maternal health outcomes. Missouri’s maternal mortality rate is increasing, and this effort will help gather information on how to ensure everyone can have a safe and healthy pregnancy. Senate Bill 480 has been referred for a committee hearing in the Senate, but one is not yet scheduled. House Bill 664 has received a hearing and is awaiting a vote in the House Committee on Children and Families.
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You can see the full list of the bills we are tracking — both good and bad — on our bill summary.
Planned Parenthood Generation Action: PP Advocates of Mizzou
Students in Planned Parenthood Advocates of Mizzou have been phone banking to #StopTheBans! They are making calls to local Planned Parenthood supporters to ask them to call Sen. Caleb Rowden and urge him to vote NO on any abortion ban.
Email Mid-Missouri Grassroots Organizer Cortney Bouse at [email protected] if you would like to join the effort!
Planned Parenthood Event Calendar
Check out our calendar to find events and volunteer opportunities near you!
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