"This is one list where being near the top is not good for Texas; the teen birth rate in this state is shameful. We cannot shy away from addressing this difficult topic and implementing policies aimed at combating these disturbing statistics," said Van de Putte.
SB 592 and HB 891 would allow 16 and 17 year-olds who have already had one child to have access to family planning counseling and services, except related to abortion or emergency contraception.
SB 593 and HB 893 expand CHIP to provide comprehensive family planning services, except related to abortion or emergency contraception, to teens ages 16 and 17 years who have at least one child.
In addition to the rising number of teen pregnancies, more than 45% of Texas births result from unplanned pregnancies, with 58% of those births among uninsured women.
SB 594 and HB 892 are designed to increase the effectiveness of the Women's Health Program (WHP) by ensuring a smooth transition for women who have given birth through the Medicaid program into the WHP without a gap in services.
"A healthy pregnancy and baby start with a healthy mother. When mothers have access to family planning counseling and services, they are better prepared to raise healthy families. Our state's first priority must be to help our mom's plan healthy pregnancies," said Villarreal.
Expanding access to health care is important and a noble idea; lowering the teen birthrate and unintended pregnancies are important goals. However, you cannot just provide health care without providing reproductive health care including access to abortion and emergency contraception.
Senator Van de Putte said in the press release, "We cannot shy away from addressing this difficult topic and implementing policies aimed at combating these disturbing statistics." An essential part of implementing policies aimed at combating those disturbing statistics would be to improve access to reproductive health care, including abortion and emergency contraception.
Representative Mike Villarreal (D-123) and Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D-26) both have exemplary pro-choice records. Senator Van De Putte has received an average rating from NARAL Pro-Choice Texas of 86.75% and Representative Villarreal has received an average rating of 96.75%. The same organization has promoted common sense solutions to prevent unintended pregnancies, and reducing the need for abortion without reducing access to abortion.
The values of freedom and personal responsibility are the basis of our Prevention First initiative. Through Prevention First, NARAL Pro-Choice America and our network of state affiliates are promoting the following commonsense policies to prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the need for abortion:
Insurance coverage for birth control
Family-planning services
Stopping pharmacists from refusing to fill birth control prescriptions
Improving access to the "morning-after" pill (also called emergency contraception)
Honest, comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education
Teen-pregnancy prevention
Preventing teen and unintended pregnancy begins with education, and Senator Van de Putte is the co-author of a bill filled by Senator Rodney Ellis (D-13) which would introduce comprehensive and age appropriate sex education into Texas public schools. SB 515 would "present medically accurate and age-appropriate information" and no longer focus on an abstinence only sex education program.
Senator Van de Putte should focus on providing better comprehensive sex education and improving access to reproductive health care; pro-choice means that there always should be a choice, not just for those who can afford it.
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