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Dear Congress,
You dont know me, but I know you.
Emma Campbell
And I know how many of you feel about womens reproductive rightsour rights.
Youve made it so very clear.
On Tuesday, you insidiously passedH.R.
This prohibits women from using federal funding for abortion and makes the antiquated and discriminatoryHyde Amendmentpermanent.
Now youre alsopenalizing private health insurerswho cover abortion care.
All the while, state politiciansstate politiciansacross the country have continued their decades-long attacks on us.
When I was 17 years old, I got pregnant right after graduating high school.
But I know firsthand that many people in the United States are not as lucky as I was.
In 2013, I startedThe Abortion Diary Podcast.
To date, Ive listened to over 200 people share their abortion experiences with me for my podcast.
As I listen to their stories, I often wonder: Do you care about us at all?
We aremillions of womenin this country.
We are your constituents, your neighbors, and maybe even your friends.
Have you ever talked with any of us?
Ironically, this is something you will now make harder for people to access by repealing theAffordable Care Act.
You should be expanding healthcare for everyone, but you clearly have other ideas.
It seems as though you think that you might stop us from obtaining abortions.
But you are mistaken.
Ive listened to people who have faced unimaginable barriers to accessing abortion.
And some have self-induced their own abortions because of such long wait times or because they were financially strapped.
Abortion is a personal choice.
It is not up for political debate.
We will not let you get away with continuing to construct barriers.
We will continue to fight for our full bodily autonomy and basic human rights.
I am not alone.
Ive met with over 200 people.
Ive listened to them share their experiences.
And we will keep sharing our experiences and continue to speak out against you.
I am not ashamed.
I will not apologize.
I will not be silenced.
Neither will my community.
We are millions strong around the world.
No gag order can stop us.
I urge you tolisten to us.
Melissa Madera, Ph.D.
Founder and Director ofThe Abortion Diary
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