When the Texas legislature slashed funding to reproductive healthcare clinics, the maternal mortality rate doubled from 2012 to 2014, vaulting Texas to the unenviable position of having the highest maternal death rate in the entire developed world! Will this be the wake up call our politicians need?

The Women's March brought men and women together in multiple cities for a common cause, but not all felt welcome or heard. We can all play a role in ensuring that the women's movement lifts up all women and brings light to the plight of other marginalized communities.

"Imagine if people were unburdened by medically unnecessary regulations, could access a provider within 10 minutes of their home, and didn’t experience fear of condemnation by their family, friends, and community?" Ending stigma requires unconditional support. 

Jezebel is keeping track of abortion legislation in every state, updating where they are in either the legislative or judicial process. Learn where your state stands, so you know where to focus your fight!

Gag rules, H.R. 7... The assault on women's health and freedom is so varied, it can be tough to wrap your head around. Self magazine helps us understand what all women, and especially low-income women and women of color, face with the passing of:

• H.R. 7 
  • "H.R. 7 is a sweeping piece of legislation, the sole purpose of which is to put constitutionally protected abortion care out of reach of as many women as possible by making it unaffordable"
• The Global Gag Rule 
  • "Critics say the gag rule cuts off access to things like birth control and condoms, too—which only leads to more unintended pregnancies"

We asked our #ChangeMakers to call in opposition to Tom Price's cabinet nomination earlier this week (it's not too late, if you haven't yet!).

On Tuesday the 31st final confirmation hearings will be held for two additional opponents to women's health and safety: Betsy DeVos and Jeff Sessions. So we need you to hit those phones once more to tell your representatives that you'll hold them accountable for their votes next week. Here are a few suggested points to hit with your congressional representatives regarding each of these nominees:
 

Betsy Devos

Who to call: 

• Find your elected official's contact information and give them a call.
• Call the members of the HELP Committee who will be holding this hearing.

What to say: 

• She refused to commit to the basic premise that all schools that receive public funding should be held to the same standards of accountability.
• She didn’t understand the difference between student proficiency and student growth—showing she has no idea how to meaningfully assess student progress.
• She showed she has no knowledge of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and didn’t even know it was a federal law.
• She refused to answer when asked what she had learned from failures of the “choice” experiment in Detroit.
• She refused to commit to enforcing rules that protect students from fraud and predatory behavior by for-profit universities.
   

Jeff Sessions

Who to call: 

• Find your elected official's contact information and give them a call.
• Call the members of the Judiciary Committee who will be holding this hearing.

What to say: 

• In 1986, the Senate Judiciary Committee denied Sessions a federal judgeship based on evidence of his racist and discriminatory behavior.
• He has called the Voting Rights Act a “piece of intrusive legislation.”
• He supports mass deportations and wants to reduce legal immigration. 
• He advocates for cutting social programs, such as the Affordable Care Act, and opposes reforms of the criminal justice system.