Panelists included Congresswoman Capps; Dr. Charles Bradley, former Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara Medical Director; Virginia Benson, a Sex Educator for Planned Parenthood; and the Rev. Mark Asman, Rector from Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara.  Each panelist brought a unique perspective on women's reproductive rights.

“Thirty-two years ago, after decades of struggles, women finally claimed their well earned right to control their bodies and their health,” said Capps, incoming Vice-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues.  “Today the country watches the inauguration of a president who would take those rights away. Only by standing up for choice together, can we turn back such an onslaught.”

Capps has been a cosponsor of the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA).  This important legislation would protect women’s fundamental rights to choose by codifying the principles established in Roe v. Wade.  She also supports expanding access to preventive health care services and education programs that help reduce unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease infections, and the need for abortions.

Some erosions of choice during the past four years include an unconstitutional ban on certain abortion procedures.  The law doesn’t identify any specific medical procedure it seeks to ban, but infringes upon a woman’s right to choose the safest method of abortion and lacks a health exemption for the mother.  Fortunately, federal courts have ruled the ban unconstitutional. 

Capps continues to relentlessly fight against inaccurate and ineffective abstinence-only education programs.  Taxpayer dollars should only be used to provide medically and scientifically accurate information to our children.  Our youth are entitled to a balanced and complete education – especially with regard to their personal health and social development.

Additionally, misguided legislation in the 2005 Omnibus spending bill allows every sort of health care provider to refuse to comply with laws pertaining to abortion services and referrals, denying women the right to receive information upon request about all legal reproductive options.

“I am very concerned, of course, that there will be any limitations to the Rove v. Wade framework,” Dr. Bradley said. “Although the numbers of women getting abortion going down – due to better contraception and emergency contraception – a lot of women in areas of the country have trouble finding an reproductive health provider. We don’t want to put any more obstacles in the way of women seeking abortions.  This is a public health issue.”

The roundtable was preceded by a Stand up for Choice event on Anapamu Street in Santa Barbara.  Pro-choice individuals in the area join these monthly lunchtime events in order to continue to focus on women’s reproductive rights after more than 200 Central Coast residents attending the March for Women’s Lives in Washington, DC last year.

Rev. Asman attended the March last year and spoke at the roundtable.

“We need to build alliances on the Central Coast to make sure alternative faith voice is heard,” he said. “We know people who walk into clinics without the support of those who share their faith. They feel as though they have to pick between their faith and their reproductive rights. That is a choice they shouldn’t have to make.”

Capps reminded those in attendance of the importance to continue fighting for women’s health rights.

“Over the next four years we will face continued assaults on a women’s right to choose, including attempts to limit women’s access to reproductive health professionals, deny women scientifically accurate information, misinform our children about sexuality, and appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade,” she said.