Abortion Vote

* The U.S. House of Representatives recently took one more step in its relentless agenda to make abortion less available, less safe and less effective--even very early abortions. It voted to prohibit the Food and Drug Administration from approving any drug that induces medical abortion, including mifepristone (RU-486).

Advances in medical research have made such drugs available so that a woman can terminate a pregnancy medically, rather than surgically, and at a much earlier point in pregnancy and with much less risk to her health. To deny access to such drugs is unethical and irresponsible.

But the anti-choice members of Congress, including our own Rep. Elton Gallegley (R-Simi Valley), are grasping at every opportunity to engage in divisive battles over a woman’s right to control her private reproductive decisions.

Until the day comes when we have contraception that is 100% effective and is available to everyone, we should welcome medical advances that make abortion safer and allow people to make responsible choices about their lives.

Congress is out of step with the American public--and it’s time for a change. Congress has voted more than 70 times in the past three years to eliminate or restrict family planning and reproductive choice. Let’s support representatives who make responsible choices--such as Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks). He won’t play politics with women’s lives.

GAIL BROWN

SHARON HILLBRANT

ART McDERMOTT

SUZANNE SILBER

Ventura County Reproductive

Rights Network

Ventura