Media Advisory: Center Launches 'Abortion Coverage is No Joke' Ad Campaign, Ahead of Senate Health Care Vote

Media Advisory: Center Launches 'Abortion Coverage is No Joke' Ad Campaign,
Ahead of Senate Health Care Vote

Nov. 16 Presser to Be Held at National Press Club, 10:15 am

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released
by the Center for Reproductive Rights:

WHAT: The Center for Reproductive Rights is launching its new ad campaign
"Abortion Coverage is No Joke," following passage of a health bill in the
House of Representatives banning abortion coverage for women participating in
the Health Exchange. The Senate is expected to begin debate on its bill next
week. The campaign calls on pro-choice constituents to contact their senators
and demand that they not ban the coverage of abortion services that millions
of American women already have.

Center for Reproductive Rights President Nancy Northup will unveil the ad. Ms.
Northup will be joined by DJ Feldman*, a woman who was diagnosed with a fatal
fetal abnormality and was refused insurance coverage for an abortion.

WHEN: Monday, November 16, 2009 at 10:15am (Eastern)

WHERE: National Press Club, Broadcast Studio Room
529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20045
Map and Directions

Background: On November 7, the House of Representatives voted 240-to-194 to
approve an amendment offered by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) and other
representatives to the health care reform package. The amendment was sold as
merely a measure to secure current restrictions that prohibit federal funding
from being used to pay for abortions except in extreme cases. But the
amendment reaches beyond these restrictions and would result in millions of
women losing the abortion coverage that they have today. Currently, the
majority of private insurance plans offer abortion coverage. Under the House
bill, anyone transitioning from the private market to buy insurance in the
Health Exchange because it's more affordable would lose abortion coverage. The
bill bans any coverage of abortion in the public option and anyone who
qualifies for federal subsidies from purchasing a plan that includes abortion.
Because the vast majority of people participating in the Exchange will receive
federal subsidies, most people will have no abortion coverage.

*No photographs or video of DJ Feldman will be permitted. If you wish to
interview her on-camera with her identity hidden (in silhouette, for example),
please speak with or contact Dionne Scott at (917) 733-4357 or
dscott@reprorights.org.

SOURCE Center for Reproductive Rights

Dionne Scott of the Center for Reproductive Rights, +1-917-637-3649 (o);
+1-917-733-4357 (c), dscott@reprorights.org