Organizing for America | Kim Ahern's Blog: Obama continues to support college women

Obama continues to support college women

By Kim Ahern - Nov 23rd, 2007 at 11:12 am EST

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“No woman should be turned away from university clinics and health centers because the cost of prescription drugs is out of reach. Access to contraceptives is essential to lowering the rate of unintended pregnancies in this country, and we need to make sure these drugs are affordable and accessible.” --Barack Obama

A recent New York Times editorial describes the increasing costs of contraceptives for young women on college campuses across the country. Next month, prescription contraceptives that once cost $10 a month will increase to $50.

Students have enough to worry about and budget for, such as the rising costs of student loans, but increases in the cost of contraceptives should not be one of those concerns. For almost 20 years, Congress has given pharmaceutical companies exemptions from additional costs if they were selling the contraceptives to universities. When the pharmaceutical companies began to abuse this privilege, by taking those generous exemptions and trading them with hospitals to receive product promotion, Congress rightfully revoked the privilege. Unfortunately, Congress went too far and allowed university health centers to be included in those cuts.

What Senator immediately recognized this problem and is now working to correct it? Senator Barack Obama. Last week, he introduced a more reasonable bill that would make university health centers eligible once again. What can you do about this problem? Call you Senator or Congressperson and tell to support Senator Obama’s Prevention Through Affordable Access Act. Senator Obama continues to demonstrate his commitment to college students, whether it be the very first Senate Bill he introduced to increase Pell Grants in order to make college more affordable or this current bill.

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