This is an urgent matter needing immediate attention. Below please find and read the most recent release from Georgia Women for a Change, discussing bill HB 954 and its potential impact on women of child-bearing age who live in the state of Georgia. This is not a joking matter and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Our rights are being challenged. Know your rights and know you have the right to challenge anyone or any entity that threatens to take your rights away!

-Natasha L. Foreman

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Action needed immediately to protect women’s health!

HB 954, a bill to practically prohibit abortions after 20 weeks, will be voted on by the Georgia House of Representatives in the next few days. The procedure would be available only if the woman’s life was in danger or if there was a serious risk of permanent physical impairment of a major bodily function. There are no exceptions for rape, incest or a woman’s mental health. This legislation is extreme and very dangerous because it takes away the doctor’s ability to render the most appropriate medical care for the patient. Many severe fetal anomalies are not discovered until 20 weeks or later. If this bill passes, women would be forced to continue a pregnancy even if the fetus has a medical condition which is incompatible with life.

Women should be able to decide, along with their doctor and their family, whether it makes sense to continue such a pregnancy.

The bill could be heard by the full House of Representatives any day now. Contact your representative now and ask them to VOTE NO on HB 954 because it will interfere with doctors’ ability to provide the most medically appropriate care for women. The Legislature just shouldn’t play politics with women’s health.

Call or email today–time is of the essence. You can find contact information for your legislator by going to: http://www.votesmart.org/. If you call and have to leave a message, be sure to say you are a voter in your legislator’s district and ask them to vote NO on HB 954!

Schedule for the next Women’s Capitol Briefing: Wednesday, March 21 at 8:00 am at Central Presbyterian Church. Please plan to be with us.

Please view the 2012 Legislative Agenda for Georgia Women for a Change

Georgia Women for a Change is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy organization that promotes progressive change for women and girls and their families in the state. We welcome women and men who believe that Georgia can do better. We believe that more women in public office will lead to better decision-making. We believe that more women speaking up in our own interest will inform a process that needs our voice.

Georgia Women for a Change ~ P.O. Box 55553, Atlanta, GA 30308 ~ 404.875.8184 ~ stephanie@gwomen.org