[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 23 (Wednesday, March 6, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E289-E290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION EDUCATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 6, 2002

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce today, along 
with my Senate colleague Patty Murray, The Emergency Contraception 
Education Act. This bi-partisan legislation will help educate women and 
health care providers across the nation about this important method of 
contraception. EC has often been called ``the nation's best kept 
secret'' because so few women in this country know that, in emergency 
situations, something is available that can prevent pregnancy after 
sexual intercourse.
  It is estimated that almost 90 percent of women aged 18-44 have 
either never heard

[[Page E290]]

of emergency contraception, or don't know the key facts critical to the 
use of emergency contraception. Only one percent of women aged 18-44 
have used emergency contraception. Were information about this 
important contraceptive choice readily available, the incidence of 
abortion could be drastically reduced. Our legislation is an attempt to 
get this information to precisely the women and health care 
professionals who need it.
  One of the reasons this bill is so necessary is because there is so 
much confusion surrounding emergency contraception. EC is not abortion; 
it is not RU-486; it is contraception. Regardless of one's position on 
abortion, we should all be able to support emergency contraception. EC 
will reduce unintended pregnancies, and therefore reduce abortions.
  Proof of the effectiveness of EC's ability to reduce unwanted 
pregnancies is found in Senator Murray's home state of Washington, 
where emergency contraception is available without a prescription at 
pharmacies. In Washington State, pharmacy access to emergency 
contraception has helped produce the largest declines in adolescent 
pregnancy and in abortion rates in the last 20 years.
  This legislation has been endorsed by the American College of 
Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). I hope that my colleagues in 
both the House and Senate will join Senator Murray and me, as well as 
the health professionals of ACOG, in championing this important 
reproductive health option for women across the country.

                          ____________________