History
In 1965 the Supreme Court upheld the right of married couples to seek contraception in the landmark case Griswold v. Connecticut. Seven years later this right was extended to unmarried couples. Then in 1973 the right to safe, legal abortion was affirmed in Roe v. Wade. In both cases, the Court based its decision on the right to privacy in intimate, family, personal decisions.

Contraceptive technology research has moved very slowly since the release of oral contraceptives in 1960. Funding for this research is often limited and many pharmaceutical research entities have shied away from such work because of the legal roadblocks they know they will encounter by those who oppose even the most basic methods of family planning. Health plans routinely fail to include coverage for contraception although it is part of basic health care for women. Largely as a result, women of reproductive age pay 68% more in out-of-pocket costs for health care services than do men of the same age.

Restore Affordable Birth Control
While efforts are being made to decrease the number of unintended pregnancies, millions of students and women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds suffer the effects of the soaring cost of birth control, which has risen up to 900% in some areas. This problem is due to an unintentional mistake Congress made in passing the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.  Support a no-cost, technical fix (H.R. 4054/S. 2347) to correct this mistake and allow college and university health centers and family planning clinics to again access lower prices for contraceptives.

Impact
Since the law went into effect in January 2007, birth control prices have sky-rocketed for students and low-income women who receive services at federally subsidized clinics and college health centers. Too often, these women can no longer afford the inflated prices which, in turn, compromise their ability to control their fertility and life plans. Consequently, an increase in unintended pregnancies and abortions is anticipated until access to affordable birth control is restored.

Due to increased cost of providing contraceptives, many health centers have been forced to cut back on services such as prenatal care and cervical cancer testing and treatment. Colleges and universities have reported a rise in the use of emergency contraceptives. And some college health centers have ceased providing oral contraceptives altogether.
 
Solution
Support for the Prevention Through Affordable Access Act (H.R. 4054/S. 2347) is vital. There are currently over 190 bipartisan House and Senate cosponsors. Whether this legislation is passed as a freestanding bill or an attachment to another piece of legislation, it is crucial that this mistake be fixed this year. This will provide women the opportunity to once again access affordable birth control. Their reproductive health and wellbeing depend on it! Take Action Now

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice works to ensure reproductive choice through the moral power of religious communities.  As people of faith, we believe it is imperative to provide women and their families with the necessary tools to decide whether and when to have children.  Supporting the Prevention Through Affordable Access Act (H.R. 4054/S. 2347) reaffirms our commitment to protecting these civil liberties.