UPDATE: GOP bill altered, still terrible for women

We’ve been talking about the GOP-supported bill called H.R. 3 this week, focusing on one of its most outrageous aspects: its attempt to redefine rape. We asked you to take action against this, and your response was incredible. In light of the outrage expressed over the attempted redefinition of rape, Cong. Chris Smith, author of the “No Taxpayer for Abortion” Act, has backed down and removed the “forcible” rape language from the bill.

While we’re pleased that the GOP gave into the pressure around the danger of redefining rape, we have to remain vigilant: there is no victory until this assault on women and their families has ended – and this bill is still part-and-parcel of the GOP’s anti-woman agenda. H.R. 3, even with alterations, remains a vicious attempt to erode the health and well-being of women and their families, specifically by limiting our right to an abortion and access to other crucial reproductive health care decisions. We cannot ignore the overall pattern of a party that systematically has – and will continue to – chip away at women’s rights, choices, and health.

Cong. Smith may have ceded on a part of the bill that was extremely detrimental to rape survivors, but now is not the time to get complacent: H.R. 3 exemplifies the GOP’s anti-woman agenda and continual effort to roll back our hard-fought freedoms and ability to make decisions for ourselves and our families. We will continue to stand up against these attacks, and we ask you to stand with us.

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