Senators Reintroduce Bill to Provide EC to Rape Survivors
Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and Jon Corzine (D-NJ) held a press conference yesterday to announce their introduction of the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies (CARE) Act. This bill would require hospitals receiving federal funds to provide emergency contraception (EC) to rape victims, as well as to provide necessary treatment to prevent sexually transmitted infections such as HIV and hepatitis B, according to Senator Corzine’s office. Senator Clinton expressed the importance of the legislation, saying, “Rape survivors have already suffered immeasurably and the last thing they should worry about is the quality of medical care they will receive. Each victim deserves the very best treatment and complete access to all the necessary resources and support services.”
Senator Corzine previously introduced the CARE Act in 2003, but it was not passed. At that time Representatives Steve Rothman (D-NJ) and Jim Greenwood (R-PA) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives, and Representatives Rothman and Rob Simmons (R-CT) have reintroduced companion legislation once again. In the Senate, the CARE Act now moves to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In introducing the CARE Act, Senator Corzine stated that “ideology should never stand between a patient and appropriate medical care… This legislation will help sexual assault survivors across the country receive the medical care they need and deserve.”
6/19/2013 House Passes 20 Week Abortion Ban - Yesterday, the House of Representatives approved a nationwide abortion ban after 20 weeks gestation in a vote of 228 to 196. . . .
6/18/2013 Supreme Court Strikes Down Proof of Citizenship Voter Requirements - On Monday, the United States Supreme Court struck down an Arizona law requiring voters to provide proof of citizenship before being allowed register to vote.
In an opinion written [PDF] by Justice Antonin Scalia, the Court ruled that the Arizona statute violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA, also known as the "Motor Voter Law") of 1993, which created a federal form that individuals can mail in to register to vote in federal elections. . . .
