Recently I wrote an Opinion Editorial that was published in the Salt Lake Tribune. These past few days I have heard from people asking what they can do to help. This is an important issue and I want to give you all the tools possible to make your voices heard on this and other important issues.
First, contact your Senators and House Representatives. This can be as easy as a phone call or a brief email:
“Hello, my name is ______________. I am a voter in your district and I would like to ask that you please support the Women’s Health Protection Act.”
Depending on whether you are contacting a Senator or a Representative, it will be helpful to leave the appropriate bill number so they know exactly to which bill you are referring. For example, if I am contacting my Senator, I will add: “This is known as S. 1696.” If I am contacting my House Representatives, I will add: “This is known as H.R. 3471.”
Contact them regularly (daily, weekly, however often you can) via email and or phone calls. It is OK to leave messages as well as your contact information. After all, legislators work for YOU to represent YOU.
This is a critical election year, too. Inform yourself of local and state elections to ensure that you and your values are being represented federally. This Op-Ed was motivated by the fact that state and federal laws prevent me from providing the highest quality of health care scientific evidence has to offer. This is harmful to my patients, their families and to families all over the country.
Perhaps the MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do if you cannot contact your legislators is to make informed decision on candidates and VOTE! This November is a critical election time.
Not sure who to vote for? Want to know what bills are making their way through Congress? Go to GovTrack to find out your representatives’ voting records and other key legislative information!
For additional resources on important bills, laws, and how to getting politically involved, please visit:
American Civil Liberties Union
Center for Reproductive Rights
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Physicians for Reproductive Health
