Legislation Improving Access to Women's Health Care Backed by Reps. Lamonte, Hovey-Wright

Package would increase education, health care options for women

LANSING - State Representative Collene Lamonte (D-Montague) and Marcia Hovey-Wright (D-Muskegon) announced their support for a package of four bills and three resolutions that would improve access to women’s health care, educate women about health care options, support rape survivors and address health care inequities women face.

“When I worked as a high school teacher, it was startling and disheartening to see how many young women were becoming pregnant and having children,” Lamonte said. “Being a teen mother makes it difficult to finish high school, enter college and establish a career that can sustain a family. We need to do more to help our daughters protect their futures, and I’m proud to sponsor a measure to do that. All of these proposals give women a better shot at a good life.”

The package of legislation includes:

• House Resolution 140, naming May 12-18 “National Women’s Health Week” in Michigan (introduced by Rep. Gretchen Driskell)

• HR 138, urging the DCH to promote programs that identify and address inequities in the prevention, treatment and research of diseases threatening women (Rep. Winnie Brinks)

• HR 139, recommending that the state intensify efforts to reduce the rate of teen pregnancies (Rep. Collene Lamonte)

• HB 4067, requiring all health facilities and agencies to offer emergency contraception to rape survivors (Rep. Charles Smiley)

• HB 4722, which directs the Department of Community Health (DCH) to develop and disseminate information about emergency contraception, including a description, explanation of use, safety efficacy and availability of emergency contraception (Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright)

• House Bill 4721, requiring age-appropriate, medically accurate and objective sexuality education to be taught in public schools (Rep. Jeff Irwin)

• HB 4260, requiring doctors to give women information on breast density and encourage those who have dense breast tissue to consult with their doctors about other screening options (Rep. Brinks)

“Women’s health care doesn’t only just matter to women, but to their husbands, sons and brothers. Unfortunately, our Legislature has been making it harder for women to get the care they need to stay healthy and take charge of their well-being, and House Democrats are taking action to change that.”