I am writing to ask that you please amend the proposed regulations to abortion providers in the state of Virginia.  The proposed regulations have nothing to do with medical science, and everything to do with politics.  The state of Virginia needs to be working to increase access to safe and affordable health care options for women, not limiting them.  By imposing costly regulations which would force these health centers to be built like hospitals many would be forced to close.  These regulations will increase the financial hurdles to health care for patients, with no proven medical benefit to these patients. These regulations will restrict access to essential health care services for women and further marginalize young, low-income, and uninsured women by decreasing their health care options.

The safety record of women's health centers is undeniable and proves the high standard of care that they uphold.  Overregulation of abortion, one of the safest medical procedures, will not only affect abortion itself.  It will also severely limit access to a wide range of preventive reproductive health care services provided by women's health clinics, including life-saving cancer screenings, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.  We can not overlook the importance of this! 

It is my hope that the proposed regulations will be amended to be based purely on medicine and will not put women's access to essential health care in the middle of a political game.