House Committee on Health (HLT) - chair: Yamane, vice chair: Nishimoto

Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 8:30 A.M. Conference Room 329

Testifier: Suzanne Meisenzahl, LWV of Hawaii, Chair, Women's Health and Safety Committee

Click here to view HB423

The League of Women Voters strongly supports HB 423 and we are happy to testify on its behalf again this year. Women and girls who have survived the ultimate violation of sexual assault deserve compassionate care, including access to emergency contraception to safeguard against getting pregnant from the assault. The American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other leading U.S. medical organizations all support access to emergency contraception as a means of reducing unintended pregnancy. In a survey conducted for Planned Parenthood Acton Fund in 2001 they confirmed three of four voters favored requiring all hospitals to make EC available to women who had been raped. 53 percent of voters said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports mandatory EC availability in hospitals for sexual assault survivors. We urge your support. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.