100 Day News Letter – Day 86 April 15, 2021

NCJW is thrilled to share that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended its enforcement of the in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone throughout the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic. This completes our eighth of the top 10 priorities! More details below.

Additionally, Congress is back from recess, prioritizing civil rights in both the House and Senate. In the House, committees voted on DC Statehood, the NO BAN Act, and a reparations study. In the Senate, the Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Kristen Clarke’s nomination to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division and voted on a procedure to move forward on Vanita Gupta’s nomination to serve in the #3 position at DOJ.

Take action now:

• Contact your senators to Confirm and Clarke and Gupta
• Register for a women’s community mobilization call cosponsored by NCJW supporting both nominees on Monday, April 19 at 7 pm ET.

Keep reading to check out our work this week to advance the lives of women, children, and families!

What is it?

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) policy has long forced those seeking mifepristone to pick up the abortion medication in person at a clinic or hospital. Mifepristone, when used together with another medicine called misoprostol, is approved by the FDA to end an early pregnancy (70 days or less since the first day of the last menstrual period). This in-person dispensing requirement does not exist for any of the other 20,000 plus FDA-approved drugs on the market. While a nationwide injunction had initially lifted this medically unnecessary restriction during the pandemic to protect patient health and public safety, the US Supreme Court reinstated it in January 2021. This week, the FDA suspended its enforcement of the in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone throughout the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic. This significant victory for reproductive freedom means that, in states where the practice is not specifically prohibited, a clinician can now prescribe mifepristone via telehealth (i.e. during a long-distance visit using videoconferencing), and the abortion medication can be delivered by mail.

How does it relate to our past work?

NCJW supports every person’s right to access comprehensive, affordable, compassionate, and equitable abortion care in whatever setting they choose and at whatever time they choose. We know that scientific and medical evidence demonstrates that mifepristone can safely and effectively be prescribed remotely and does not need to be taken under medical supervision. Lifting medically unnecessary restrictions on this abortion medication is one of NCJW’s Top Ten Priorities for the First 100 Days of the Biden-Harris administration.

What can I do now?

Take Action! Add your name to NCJW’s petition thanking the Biden-Harris administration for their work to lift the in-person dispensing requirement during the pandemic and urging the FDA to do so permanently.

What is it?

On April 14, the Department of Health and Human Services released a proposed regulation to restore Title X, the nation’s family planning program that was dismantled under the previous administration. When finalized, this proposal will end the Title X gag rule, renewing the ability for providers receiving program funding to discuss and refer patients for abortion care, along with other modifications to strengthen the program.

How does it relate to our past work?

NCJW has been committed to restoring Title X, the only federal grant program dedicated to providing individuals, particularly those struggling to make ends meet and the uninsured, with comprehensive family planning and related preventive health services. We joined the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and other partners to urge the Biden-Harris administration to take these immediate and simple steps to restore Title X.

What can I do now?

A 30-day public comment period began today, when the rule was officially published. At the end of the month, NCJW will provide template comments on our website expressing our support for this rulemaking, which will better ensure access to equitable, affordable, client-centered, quality health care services for Title X patients. In the meantime, you can watch our webinar on influencing policy through administrative advocacy.

What is it?

Hate crimes and incidents are surging across the country, particularly against Asian Americans. Yet 86 percent of law enforcement agencies reported zero hate crimes in 2019, and many other agencies did not report at all. Accurate, consistent reporting allows the government and local nonprofits to know where, when, and how to provide community resources in response to hate crimes. This week, the bipartisan Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer NO HATE Act was introduced in the House and Senate. The bill would improve hate crimes reporting and expand assistance and resources for victims of hate crimes.

How does it relate to our past work?

NCJW has long advocated for mandatory hate crime reporting, and precisely the NO HATE Act. In 2020, the House passed the bill as a section of the Heroes Act (a COVID-19 pandemic relief bill), but the Senate did not take it up.

What can I do now?

Take action! Tell your members of Congress to support the NO HATE Act. With your help, this critical bill can become law.

• COVID-19 Community Corps: NCJW is proud to be a founding member of the national volunteer COVID-19 Community Corps, a US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative to galvanize trusted messengers in the fight against COVID-19. Visit hhs.gov/COVIDCommunityCorps today to learn more and join us in the fight to protect America’s health. Click here for sample social media and communications you can use to spread the word.Take action! Take our pledge to get vaccinated and help others to get do so, then post it online on your favorite social media channel.
• NO BAN Act: The NO BAN Act, which would prevent future administrations from banning entire communities from entering the United States, was marked up in the House Judiciary Committee this week. NCJW sent a statement of support to the committee, and a full vote on the House of Representatives floor is expected next week. On his first day in office, President Biden rescinded the Muslim and African Ban, which prohibited visitors and immigrants from several countries, most of which were majority-Muslim. However, it’s still critical to pass this legislation to prevent similar bans from happening in the future.Take action! Tell your representative to vote YES on the NO BAN Act next week.
• DC Statehood: HR 51, which would grant statehood and voting representation in Congress to the District of Columbia, was marked up by the House Oversight and Reform Committee this week. NCJW supports this legislation and urges passage when it comes to the House floor for a vote next week.Take action! Tell your representative you support DC statehood.
• Paid Sick Days: This week, the Healthy Families Act was reintroduced in the House and Senate. This bill, long supported by NCJW, would allow most workers to earn up to seven job-protected, paid sick days a year.Take action! Tell your lawmakers to cosponsor and support the Healthy Families Act.
• EACH Act: On April 9, President Joe Biden released his summary budget. This document made no mention of the Hyde Amendment, a budget provision prohibiting federal insurance plans and programs from covering abortion care. While we await the announcement of the President’s full budget without Hyde — one of NCJW’s top ten priorities for the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration — we can still take action to end this racist and discriminatory policy. Led by women of color and their allies, the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act (HR 2234/S 1021) would mandate coverage of all pregnancy-related care, including abortion, in federal health plans and programs and prohibit political interference in private insurance coverage of abortions.Take Action! Urge your lawmakers to support the EACH Act today to ensure that abortion care is there for all of us — however much we earn, wherever we live, and whoever we are.