Big Announcement! Our Bodies Ourselves Launches "Educate Congress" Campaign

Remember when Christine and The Ladydrawers took a road trip to deliver “Our Bodies, Ourselves” and other educational materials to the Missouri offices of Rep. Todd Akin and Sen. Claire McCaskill?

This time, with your help, we’re sending the book to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

We’ve launched Educate Congress, an initiative to raise $25,000 to provide members of Congress with accurate, evidence-based information about women’s bodies and reproductive health — and work to ensure that related legislation is based on this information. Nothing less than the future of our health care legislation is at stake.

For as little as $5, you can help us reach our goal and receive one of the great perks, such as a copy of “Our Bodies, Ourselves” signed by Gloria Steinem or original art by The Ladydrawers, commemorating the Missouri Sex Ed Road Trip. There are buttons, stickers, tote bags and, of course, books. And all donors make the “I Educated Congress” honor roll!

Plus we have more exciting news! A National Press Club Newsmaker event will be held on Monday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. Women’s health experts will discuss the campaign and the central importance of evidence-based reproductive health policy in women’s lives. Speakers include:

• Judy Norsigian, executive director and founder, Our Bodies Ourselves

• Christy Turlington Burns, global maternal health advocate and founder, Every Mother Counts

• Dr. Vivian Pinn, former director (retired), Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health

Representatives of leading women’s groups, such as Dr. Diana Zuckerman, president, National Research Center for Women & Families, and Cindy Pearson, executive director, National Women’s Health Network, will also be available to answer questions concerning public policy and what Congress can do to improve women’s health.

In the coming weeks, we’ll cover policies and legislation related to women’s health that are not based on the best available scientific evidence (such as the controversy over making contraception available as core preventive care available without a co-pay). And we’ll discuss policies Congress should support.

Please join us in educating Congress and share this campaign with your friends. We have our work cut out for us, but together we can make a difference!