Good Morning:
There are a number of bills being heard in the NH legislature this week that will, if passed, do tremendous harm to our state and to our citizens. I will be sending out some other e-mails on separate topics throughout the day today. This one is focused on one bill in particular, HB 228-FN. This bill will ban our Health and Human Services Department from contracting with Planned Parenthood or any other entity that provides abortion-related services. As a result, such other healthcare providers as the esteemed Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center will also be barred from contracting with the state of NH because it offers abortion referrals.
This bill goes way beyond the debate over abortion. It will gut the very core of healthcare services for women in our state.
The hearing on this bill is tomorrow, Tuesday, February 8 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 205 of the Legislative Office Building. At 11:30 a.m., prior to the hearing, there will be a press conference in the Legislative Office Building Lobby by Planned Parenthood and other healthcare providers.
Your help is needed and is extremely important.
If it is at all possible, please cancel other plans for tomorrow and come to both the press conference at 11:30 a.m. in a show of unity to preserve healthcare services for NH women and to sign in opposition of the bill when it comes up for hearing at 1:30 p.m.
There are folks looking to carpool and otherwise coordinate with folks who are going. I have offered to help with this effort, so if you can go please let me know and include whether you will be able to accommodate other passengers.
If you absolutely cannot be there, are you willing to send an e-mail or letter to the committee to express your opposition to this bill? Can you write a letter to the editor so that every woman in the state knows what is at stake with this legislation? Are you willing to send e-mails to lists you may have in your possession?
There are folks who can help with talking points for letter writing. If you want some assistance in sending e-mails or in writing letters to the editor, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
If you can do any of the above, please let me know as we are trying to track outreach efforts.
Thank you for all that you do.
Jackie
