Issue Position: Reproductive Rights

Issue Position

Chris, a father of three, understands how tough a decision it can be to decide when to start a family, and recognizes how personal of an issue it is for women and their families. There are many passionate people on both sides of the debate, who see it as a moral and religious decision.

Chris believes that decisions about a woman's health, including issues surrounding pregnancy, should be left to her and her doctor. Abortion should remain safe, legal, and rare for women regardless of their financial means. He supports Roe v. Wade and supports restoring the original rights expressed in the decision before legislation and courts began eroding them.

There are also many policies at federal, state, and local levels that affect a woman's right to choose and we must continue fighting on behalf of reproductive rights. Chris supports public funding of all reproductive health services for women who depend on the federal government for their health care. Chris opposes proposals such as the Child Custody Protection Act; gag rules that prohibit health-care professionals from counseling patients; and bans on safe procedures that protect the life and health of the mother.

Health care begins with strong pre-natal care and available family planning services for all women. Chris strongly supports efforts through the recent health care reform legislation and through Medicaid and other federal programs to ensure that women have access to vital tools, including medical services and access to nutritious food options, which will give babies a head start in life. He supports family-planning services and believes that health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs should cover prescription contraception equally.

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