Social Action Committee News

Last April, the RSNS Social Action Committee coordinated the travel, by bus, of dozens of RSNS members to Washington DC for the historic March for Women’s Lives. In the week leading up to this event, an omnibus bill was introduced into the House and Senate that combined increased Title X funding with six existing bills relating to contraception, family planning, and comprehensive sexuality education: The Family Planning State Empowerment Act, Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Act, Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraception Coverage Act, Emergency Contraception Education Act, Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act, and the Family Life Education Act. This month, we read the story of Purim, and are commanded to rejoice at the aversion of nearcatastrophic disaster by the heroic actions of Queen Esther. The plight of both Jews and women as subjugated people are a key element to the Book of Esther, and their dual triumph in this story is cause for celebration indeed. As Reconstructionist Jews, however, we must also look to this story as a challenge to . ght the same wrongs in our own day, and by supporting legislation that provides signi. cantly enhanced education and empowerment to women to safeguard their own health and freedom, we can do just that.

Therefore, the Social Action Committee encourages each of you, in emails, phone calls, and faxes, to please contact your Representatives and Senators and urge them to cosponsor and support the Putting Prevention First Act (S. 2336 / H.R. 4192). You can also encourage your Member of Congress to support this comprehensive family planning legislation directly by using this link: http://capwiz.com/rac/issues/ alert/?alertid=5714001&type=CO