on may 20, senator cory booker (d-nj) introduced the health equity and access under the law (heal) for immigrant women and families act. this is the first time that this legislation has been introduced in the senate.

the cases are a challenge to the trump-pence administration’s rules that would allow virtually any employer or university to be exempted from the affordable care act’s requirement that health plans cover birth control without out-of-pocket costs.

requiring that affiliates of us organizations abroad oppose “prostitution and sex trafficking” upon receiving us foreign assistance funding for hiv/aids, is a violation of the first amendment.  not only that, but to impose such a position on organizations implementing hiv/aids programming undermines rights-based approaches to hiv prevention, testing, treatment, care and support.

young people have clearly and consistently called for complete and accurate sexual health information and access to sexual and reproductive health care services. as organizations dedicated to improving sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice for all, we respond each may with sex ed for all.

in the midst of a pandemic, it is unconscionable that the united states would choose to stop its contributions to the one global entity that serves as the coordinating authority on international health and has the technical capacity and mandate to support the public health response to covid-19.

the decision of ohio’s attorney general to force clinics to stop offering abortion care is unnecessary, opportunistic, and incredibly callous. governor dewine’s administration is using this opportunity to continue his extremist anti-abortion agenda, rather than truly looking out for public health and safety. 

unlike some procedures, abortion is time-sensitive. it can’t simply be delayed. and with social distancing measures expected to last weeks and months, this decision should be called what it is: forced birth for thousands.