Hi, this is Dr. Pamela Pugh. As a public health expert and someone who has struggled with infertility challenges of my own, I do feel qualified to speak up and speak out on one of the hot-button issues in our political discourse right now – access to IVF. This will be a bit of a longer email, but I think it's important to share my story with you. As someone who doesn’t have children – and not by choice, it is difficult and raw for me to share my challenges with infertility, but it is a path that I have walked down in my life. While I have been an aunt, godmother, a bonus parent, and a foster parent instead of pursuing IVF, it is often the last option families here in Mid-Michigan and around the country have to pursue to have children when facing infertility challenges. Right now, this vital medical care is at risk: Since Republicans in the state of Alabama effectively banned IVF last month, we have seen their Republican allies in Congress refuse to join with Democrats to enshrine federal protections for IVF. Here in our “toss-up” race in Michigan’s 8th District, there’s no doubt that my future Republican opponent in the general election will support an IVF ban. So in my estimation, we face two potential futures in November with regard to reproductive rights: 1. If Democrats lose this district, we will likely lose the House, and potentially also the Senate and the Presidency in November. If that happens we would certainly face a federal IVF and abortion ban. 2. If I'm elected to the U.S. Congress and we win this toss-up district for Democrats, we will likely win back the House, and I will fight every single day to protect reproductive health care and rights – including IVF access – for millions of American families who have struggled with infertility challenges as I have. Thank you for standing with me and fighting for what is right,
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.