Hearings for the Ohio Prevention First Act!
After three and a half long years, we are finally getting a chance to have complete hearings on the Ohio Prevention First Act. You can find updates on all of the hearings below, with links to all of the testimony so you can read for yourself what the supporters and opponents have to say about this legislation. The Ohio Prevention First Act had its first hearing on October 28, 2009, where Representative Yates delivered sponsor testimony for the bill. Read his testimony here and learn more about why he introduced this bill and why it is so important for Ohioans. Of course if we got to have supporters testify we also had to allow the other side to testify as well. On December 2nd there was opponent testimony for the Ohio Prevention First Act. It was interesting to see anti-choice representatives put in the position of having to oppose something since they have had control of the committee and the chamber for so long. You could almost feel the desperation in the committee room, especially when abstinence-only educators spoke before the committee about the harm that would be done to students by removing the mandate that sex education programs in Ohio be abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. Read more about what happened, watch video of the testimony delivered in the committee hearing and read the written testimony from the opponents. We expect more hearings to occur after the holidays so stay tuned for future updates. Want to be involved? There are lots of ways, and you can even do more than one if you want! Become our friend on facebook so we can share real-time updates with you about what is happening with the bill, including information on future hearings. Sign the on-line petition to show your support for the Ohio Prevention First Act. Volunteer! Contact Jaime at 614-221-2594 or email Jaime@ProChoiceOhio.org to find out how you can be more involved.
Do you have a story you think would be helpful for the Health Committee to hear? We are looking especially for people who work with victims of sexual assault, doctors, pharmacists, counselors, people who have been denied access to emergency contraception either in a hospital or pharmacy setting, survivors of sexual assault, people who's insurance does not cover prescription contraception, students who have either had comprehensive or abstinence only sex education, teachers/parents who are concerned about the sex education offered in their school or just concerned citizens who want to testify. Email Jaime at Jaime@ProChoiceOhio.org or call 614-221-2594 (1-800-GO-NARAL) if you are interested in sharing your story.
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