IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN’S HEALTH AND WOMEN’S INCLUSION IN HEALTHCARE DECISIONS

WHEREAS, a large body of research confirms that having women at the table results in policies that are better for women’s health, for human rights, and for children and families; and

WHEREAS, women are often excluded from conversations regarding women’s healthcare; and

WHEREAS, federal lawmakers are leading many concerning assaults on the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid that affect women’s health; and

WHEREAS, scientifically based, comprehensive information regarding women’s reproductive health is being censored in some venues, and federal funding for women’s healthcare is under attack; and

WHEREAS, some insurance companies and employers are limiting women’s contraceptive choices based on nonfactual information and religious beliefs; and

WHEREAS, the federal Food and Drug Administration has a history of approving drugs and devices with limited inclusion of women, people of color, and other subpopulations in testing; and

WHEREAS, approximately 200,000 rape kits across the United States have gone untested; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of State released its annual Human Rights report on April 20, 2018, and the document dramatically scaled back its reporting on women’s reproductive health and rights; and

WHEREAS, pregnant women detained and held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are not always receiving appropriate prenatal care; and

WHEREAS, the federal government and some states are mounting campaigns and restrictions against abortion services, as well as threatening funding for organizations that provide women with comprehensive and medically accurate reproductive choices and services:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers will continue to defend and work to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid to ensure that low-income women and their families have affordable insurance options; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will support policies that advance health equity, and address affordability and access barriers that affect women; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will work with partners in legislative arenas and during contract negotiations to ensure health insurance markets and employer-based health plans offer comprehensive care plans that cover unrestricted reproductive health coverage; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will demonstrate its support for the federal Food and Drug Administration’s plans to increase inclusion of women, people of color, and other subpopulations in testing drugs and medical devices prior to approval, and encourage the agency to be transparent in its findings; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will demand that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ensure detained pregnant women are provided with immediate and ongoing quality prenatal and obstetric care; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will request that the U.S. Department of State restore full reporting of women’s health and reproductive statistics in its annual Human Rights report, beginning in 2019; and      

RESOLVED, that the AFT will engage policymakers to work toward policies that protect and benefit women’s health; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will partner with the Joyful Heart Foundation and others as they advocate for state lawmakers to approve funding to pursue testing of untested rape kits; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will continue to partner with Planned Parenthood and other organizations that provide millions of women with access to comprehensive, medically accurate reproductive health services and education.