Over the past two years, I have watched as Gov. McDonnell and Attorney General Cuccinelli push politically motivated TRAP regulations through what should be a scientific and evidence-based medical regulatory process. We’ve seen it all: legal threats, back-room deals, and even the resignation of public health champion Dr. Karen Remley, who felt she could no longer promote Virginia’s public health in the face of such drastic political overreach.

You know as well as I do: TRAP regulations have absolutely nothing to do with protecting women’s health. Instead, these onerous regulations are designed to force the majority of women’s health centers in Virginia to close, and prevent Virginia women from exercising their constitutional right to safe, legal, abortion.

The regulations will increase the financial hurdles to health care for patients, with no proven medical benefit to patients. Women need more access to affordable, high quality health care, not less.If regulations placed on women's health centers are based upon evidence-based medical practices that advance the public health, then women in the Commonwealth will be able to maintain access to vital health care from trusted medical providers.

The high standard of care provided by women's health centers is proven by their impressive safety record. Abortion is one of the safest medical procedures. Overregulation will limit access to a wide range of preventive reproductive health care services provided by women's health clinics, including life-saving cancer screenings, family planning, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.