Earlier today we sent out an email alert on the latest Congressional attack on abortion rights. See the text below.

As the email mentions, a House Judiciary Subcommittee is holding a hearing today on the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act," an extreme bill that would establish a permanent, blanket prohibition on any and all federal spending on abortion care.

Our very own Sarah Audelo is attending the hearing, which is happening right now. You can follow her live tweets here.

We'll keep you posted on the latest developments on Capitol Hill. In the meantime, we hope you'll sign our newest alert and share the message below with your friends and networks. Thank you!

If you didn't see Jon Stewart and Kristen Schaal discussing the House Republicans' attempt to redefine rape, you owe it to yourself to watch this video.

Due to a powerful outpouring of grassroots political pressure, you and other advocates around the country were able to create enough of a media firestorm that House Republicans removed the "forcible rape" clause from the bill.

We won — this time — but this victory is limited and not cause for celebration. Our victory removed a single word from a still-devastating bill that undermines women's health and rights. Even without the "forced rape" language, the so-called "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" would still go far beyond all previous attempts to stop women from accessing safe, legal abortion care.

If you were as enraged as I was by House Republicans' recent attempts to redefine rape, you can help raise awareness by posting the Daily Show video to your Facebook Profile.

Redefining Rape Was Just the Beginning

TODAY, a House Judiciary Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act." Even without the "forced rape" provisions, this bill goes far beyond any current law by imposing a permanent, blanket prohibition on any and all federal spending on abortion care. It would also resurrect the Stupak-Pitts amendment to drastically restrict insurance coverage for abortion services and would impose tax penalties on individuals and businesses who opted for insurance plans that provided abortion coverage.

TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress not to undermine reproductive rights with new restrictions on safe, legal abortion care. Stand up for women's health and lives!

TOMORROW, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on the "Protect Life Act." This bill would amend the Affordable Care Act with the draconian anti-choice restrictions of the rejected Stupak-Pitts Amendment from the health care reform debate last year. The bill also includes language that would — for the first time in history — allow doctors and hospitals to let pregnant women die by refusing to provide life-saving abortion procedures (or even referrals) even if the woman's life hangs in the balance.

TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress not to put extremist ideology over women's lives. Ask your Representative to stop radical restrictions on abortion that would leave women to die.

SOON, the House leadership will release its budget and additional legislation — and this fight will expand far beyond abortion. Cutting funding for comprehensive sex education, reviving failed abstinence-only-until-marriage ideology, gutting Title X family planning infrastructure, and even a Constitutional amendment granting full citizenship to fetuses — at the expense of pregnant women — are all on the table.

Together, We Can Fight Back

For decades, anti-choice zealots have worked to restrict women's rights and chip away at access to abortion care. With only a few exceptions, even the most radical activists were willing to compromise on standard exceptions guaranteeing access to abortion services in instances of rape, incest, or if the mother's life was at risk.

In under six weeks, House Republicans have shown that they are willing to push for the most radical, anti-choice agenda we have ever seen — while they have yet to offer a single plan to create new jobs in a devastated economy.

In deeds if not in words, they have declared war on women in America. If this isn't a Trojan Horse Republican Congress, I don't know what is. They campaigned on jobs, but as soon as they got into office, they decided to focus on the culture wars.

Together, we stopped House Republicans from redefining rape. The weeks and months ahead will hold similar victories, but only if we continue to fight back against each and every attack on reproductive rights and sexual health. At times, it will be exhausting — but I promise that we will continue to stand with you at every turn.

It isn't going to be easy, but together we can — and will — make a difference.

Sincerely,

James Wagoner
President
Advocates for Youth

P.S. Even in this political climate, I truly believe we can and will see some fantastic achievements for young people's reproductive and sexual health. These victories will come at the local level, in state legislatures, and yes, even in Congress. And they will be a direct result of your hard work, dedication, and passion.