White House Reaffirms Commitment to Contraceptive Services

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, called the Obama administration's announcement a reaffirmation of the commitment to ensuring contraceptive coverage.

The Obama administration's policy will make sure women of all faiths who work at religiously affiliated hospitals, universities, and service organizations can get contraceptive coverage. It guarantees that women will encounter no barriers from their bosses or insurance plans in getting birth control without a copay.

"Today's announcement makes it clear that President Obama is firmly committed to protecting women's health," Keenan said. "Unfortunately, some opponents of contraception may not be satisfied. These groups and their allies in Congress want to take away contraceptive coverage from nurses, janitors, administrative staff, and college instructors--and that agenda is out of touch with our country's values and priorities. We will continue to fight on every front to support women's access to birth control as politicians in Washington, D.C. try to take it away."

Keenan also noted that her organization is committed to ensuring that the policy is implemented fully and fairly, so that women receive this basic health-care benefit without unnecessary barriers.

Keenan also said her organization is mobilizing against legislative attacks, including an amendment offered by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) to the transportation bill that is expected to be voted on as early as next week. Although the Obama administration's policy already exempts churches and other places of worship from the contraceptive requirement, the Blunt amendment is a far-reaching and extreme proposal. It would completely undo the no-cost birth control policy, which would ensure that virtually all women would get their prescription birth control covered without a copay. The amendment would also go so far as to allow insurers to deny coverage for any service they oppose based on personal views.