A
far-reaching anti-choice bill,
introduced by Republican Chris Smith and
supported by 173 members
of the House, includes a provision that
could redefine rape and set women's
rights back by decades.1
Right
now, federal dollars can't be used for
abortion except in cases of rape,
incest,
or when the woman's life is in danger.
But
according to the
New
York Times, the Smith bill would
narrow that use to "cases of 'forcible'
rape
but not statutory or coerced rape."2
This could mean cases where women are
"drugged or given excessive amounts
of alcohol, rapes of women with limited
mental capacity, and many date rapes"
would no longer count as rape.3
As far
too many women know, bruises and broken
bones do not define rape—a lack of
consent does.
The Smith bill is scary. And
with 173 supporters it already has a
frightening chance of passage
unless the public speaks up right away
with an outcry that can't be ignored.
Can
you sign the petition to Congress today,
demanding they oppose the sexist,
anti-choice Smith bill?
The
petition says:
"Bruises and broken bones do not define
rape—a lack of consent does.
Stand up and oppose the dangerous GOP
legislation to redefine rape."
Federal funds are already severely
restricted when it comes to reproductive
rights and women's health care,
a situation that ends up hurting
lower-income women in particular, who
tend to use federally-funded services
more
often than wealthy women. The last
thing we ought to be doing is
legislating to make these laws more
stringent.
In
addition, the Smith bill is full of
dangerous anti-choice provisions as well
as the rape redefinition.
Called "Stupak on Steroids" by NARAL
Pro-Choice America in reference to Rep.
Bart Stupak's failed attempt to
push stringent restrictions on
insurance coverage for abortion during
the health care debate, it would "force
millions
of American families to pay more taxes
if their health plan covers abortion
care,
jeopardizing abortion coverage in the
private market."4
The
Smith bill is just the first of many
attacks on women's rights to come in the
new GOP-controlled House.5
If it moves forward, it would set
an incredibly dangerous precedent for
GOP action in the
House for the next two years.
Can you
sign the petition asking Congress to
denounce the Smith bill to redefine
rape? Click here:
http://pol.moveon.org/smithbill/?id=25965-18186732-np.d1px&t=4
Sources:
1. "The
House GOP's Plan to Redefine Rape,"
Mother
Jones, January 28, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205936&id=25965-18186732-np.d1px&t=5
"Stupak on
Steroids,"
The
Hill, January 25, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205938&id=25965-18186732-np.d1px&t=6
2. "The Two
Abortion Wars: A Highly Intrusive
Federal Bill,"
New
York Times, January 29, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/opinion/30sun1.html
3. "The
House GOP's Plan to Redefine Rape,"
Mother
Jones, January 28, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205936&id=25965-18186732-np.d1px&t=7
"Stupak on
Steroids,"
The
Hill, January 25, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205938&id=25965-18186732-np.d1px&t=8
5. Ibid.
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