[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 25945-25946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-10130]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 86 , No. 90 / Wednesday, May 12, 2021 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 25945]]


                Proclamation 10206 of May 7, 2021

                
National Women's Health Week, 2021

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                It's a simple proposition for me: women are entitled to 
                the same rights and opportunities as men, including 
                access to high-quality, affordable health care. 
                National Women's Health Week is an opportunity to focus 
                on the work we need to do as a Nation to ensure equal 
                access to high-quality, affordable care for women, and 
                to build a more prosperous, healthy future for all.

                This starts by strengthening the Affordable Care Act, 
                which ensures that women cannot be denied coverage for 
                pre-existing conditions, such as pregnancy, or charged 
                more for coverage simply because they are women. The 
                Affordable Care Act also expanded coverage to millions 
                of women who were previously uninsured, and made 
                various preventive services available free of charge, 
                including Pap smears and mammograms. In addition, it 
                covers screening and counseling for domestic and 
                intimate partner violence.

                To cover more Americans, the Biden-Harris 
                Administration began a special open enrollment period 
                on healthcare.gov, so that women who are uninsured have 
                the opportunity to sign up for coverage through August 
                15. And, we are committed to building on the successes 
                of this law to make coverage more affordable. The 
                American Rescue Plan, enacted earlier this year, will 
                save women buying coverage on their own $50 per month 
                on their health care premiums.

                The theme of this year's National Women's Health Week 
                is ``Ending the Pandemic and Elevating Women's 
                Health.'' The quickest and most effective way to defeat 
                this pandemic and restore public health is through 
                vaccination.

                My Administration is committed to advancing women's 
                health and ensuring an equitable response to the COVID-
                19 pandemic. We have prioritized and increased access 
                to the COVID-19 vaccine and expanded the criteria for 
                eligibility to include all adults over the age of 16. 
                We encourage women to talk to their doctors, nurses, 
                nurse practitioners, or physician assistants about the 
                COVID-19 vaccine.

                And, it is important for women and girls to catch up on 
                any missed vaccines or medical care from this past 
                year. Delays in routine care--such as Pap smears, 
                mammograms, bone density scans, stress tests, 
                cholesterol screenings, blood pressure screenings, 
                physical exams, general check-ups and other preventive 
                health screenings--can cause many conditions to go 
                undetected. As we mark National Women's Health Week, 
                let us make sure that all women and girls, particularly 
                those with underlying health conditions such as 
                hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory 
                conditions, and mental health needs, can prioritize 
                their own health.

                The COVID-19 pandemic has further revealed why the 
                unique needs of women and girls must be centered in our 
                health care system, and further brought to light the 
                health disparities and systemic biases that women, 
                particularly women of color, continue to face, 
                including inequitable maternity care and access to 
                reproductive health care.

[[Page 25946]]

                My Administration aims to address persistent and 
                unconscionable disparities in maternal health outcomes. 
                Pregnancy-related mortality for Black and American 
                Indian and Alaska Native women is two to three times 
                higher than for white, Hispanic, and Asian American and 
                Pacific Islander women. Ensuring that all women have 
                equitable access to health care before, during, and 
                after pregnancy is essential. I am committed to 
                building a health care system that delivers equity and 
                dignity to all women and girls. In addition, we must 
                protect access to sexual and reproductive health care, 
                including the broad range of family planning services.

                As we strive to improve the health of our Nation, we 
                must prioritize the health and well-being of our women 
                and girls. During National Women's Health Week, we 
                reaffirm our commitment to this important work.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, by virtue of the 
                authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws 
                of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 9 through 
                May 15, 2021, as National Women's Health Week. During 
                this week, I encourage all Americans to dedicate 
                themselves to the work of improving the health of women 
                and girls and promoting health equity for all.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                fifth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2021-10130
Filed 5-11-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F1-P