Kaine Introduces Legislation To Protect Women’s Access To Contraceptives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine introduced the Access to Birth Control (ABC) Act, legislation to ensure that any woman with a valid prescription is not denied or intimidated when requesting birth control or emergency contraception at pharmacies.

“No woman’s access to contraception should be denied at the pharmacy counter after she has made a decision with her doctor,” said Kaine. “I’m proud to sponsor this important piece of legislation that will defend the freedom of women’s health care choices.”  

The Access to Birth Control Act ensures women’s timely access to reproductive health care. It requires pharmacies to help a woman obtain her prescribed type of contraceptive. If the requested product is not in stock, it requires a pharmacy to order the prescription, refer the woman to another pharmacy or return the prescription – whichever scenario the woman chooses.

This bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker, Tammy Baldwin, Richard Blumenthal, Barbara Boxer, Sherrod Brown, Al Franken, Kirsten Gillibrand, Mazie K. Hirono, Edward J. Markey, Jeff Merkley, Robert Menendez, Patty Murray, Bernie Sanders, Jeanne Shaheen, Sheldon Whitehouse and Ron Wyden.

Supporters of the Access to Birth Control Act include: Advocates for Youth, American Association of University Women, The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Catholics for Choice, Center for Reproductive Rights, Disciples for Choice, Disciples Justice Action Network, Feminist Majority Foundation, Institute for Science and Human Values, Jewish Women International, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, The National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Council of Jewish Women, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, National Organization for Women, National Women’s Health Network, National Women’s Law Center, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Population Connection Action Fund, Population Institute, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Reproductive Health Technologies Project, Sexuality Information and the Education Council of the United States, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation.

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