Sherrill Fights to Expand Access to Contraception for New Jersey Women
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) is leading on new legislation that would expand access to contraception medication, alongside her colleagues Reps. Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Dina Titus (NV-01), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), and Senator John Fetterman (PA). The Convenient Contraception Act requires private healthcare plans to cover full-year supplies of contraception instead of the current standard of 3-month supplies in most states.
“Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked tirelessly to expand access and lower the cost of healthcare. With this bill, we are addressing an unnecessary hurdle women face across the country in accessing contraception medication. At a time when women’s healthcare is under attack by extreme politicians in Congress and across the country, Senator Fetterman, Reps. Underwood, Titus, Cherfilus-McCormick, and I are fighting back with commonsense, effective policies that empower women to make their own healthcare decisions,” said Rep. Sherrill.
“Expanding access to contraception is a critical part of protecting the health and lives of millions of women, who have seen their access to care jeopardized by extreme Republicans’ attacks on reproductive freedom,” said Rep. Underwood. “Contraception is essential health care, and it must remain easily available nationwide.”
“A woman’s right to make their own health care decisions is sacred to me. I am proud to lead this first of its kind legislation to expand equitable access to contraceptives,” said Senator Fetterman. “Convenient and reliable access to contraceptives reduces unintended pregnancies, improves maternal health outcomes, and promotes equity. I will continue fighting to expand contraceptive access and protect reproductive freedom.”
“I’m proud to join Sen. Fetterman and Rep. Underwood in the effort to make contraception more accessible, especially as the GOP continues to attack women’s freedoms from every angle. Southern Nevadans have made clear for decades that reproductive rights are a top priority, and this commonsense legislation would make a simple but critical fix to expand access and reduce racial disparities in care,” said Rep. Titus.
“Purchasing contraception should be painless and effortless, but that has been far from the case for many low-income women and women of color,” said Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick. “The Convenient Contraception Act would address many of the financial and logistical hurdles that stand in the way of comprehensive reproductive health care, allowing women nationwide to access the prescriptions they need.”
Many individuals currently have stipulations in their healthcare plans that only allow them to receive three-months supply of their contraception prescription at a time. This unnecessary hurdle can lead to lapse of protection. The Convenient Contraception Act provides access to a full-year prescription supply at once and bars health insurance providers from extracting an additional fee for that full-year supply.
The Convenient Contraception Act is endorsed by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; Catholics for Choice; Center for American Progress; Contraceptive Access Initiative; Every Mother Counts; In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda; MomsRising; NARAL Pro-Choice America; National Council of Jewish Women; National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association; National Partnership for Women & Families; National Women’s Law Center; Physicians for Reproductive Health; Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Power to Decide; The Collaborative; and What to Expect Project.
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