Gallego Hosts Women’s Health Roundtable
Rep. Gallego’s new report, ‘Protecting Arizona Women’s Health,’ highlights his efforts to support and protect reproductive and maternal health
PHOENIX — Gathering at the offices of Planned Parenthood Arizona, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) today hosted a roundtable to discuss the state of, and his efforts to safeguard and expand, the reproductive and maternal health of Arizona women.
“Far-right extremists in Arizona and in Washington have made it clear they want to ban abortion, contraception, and IVF,” said Rep. Gallego. “At the same time, women across Arizona face significant hurdles accessing quality, affordable care. That’s why I was honored to stand with these leaders today to discuss how we can improve women’s health care and support Arizona women and families.”
During the meeting, Rep. Gallego shared his new report, Protecting Arizona Women’s Health, which highlights his efforts to support women’s health, with a focus on protecting reproductive and maternal health. Participants included leaders from Planned Parenthood Arizona, Reproductive Freedom for All, AHCCCS, NativeHealth, InterTribal Council of Arizona, National Association of Hispanic Nurses, National Black Nurses Association, Women’s Health Coalition of Arizona, and several community health and family planning centers from across the state.
This event is part of Rep. Gallego’s extensive work to protect women’s health and safeguard reproductive freedom. He backs the Women’s Health Protection Act to codify the right to an abortion nationwide and the Right to Contraception Act to require pharmacies and pharmacists to provide birth control to a patient with a valid prescription without delay. He also backs the Veterans Infertility Treatment Act to expand coverage of infertility treatment, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF), at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Most recently, Rep. Gallego sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra calling for the end of federal tax dollars flowing to so-called Crisis Pregnancy Centers through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. This came the day after he signed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to reverse a stay that would override the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s scientific judgment and dramatically curtail access to mifepristone—a safe and effective medication approved by the FDA in 2000 for abortion and miscarriage management.