I live in Reston, Virginia and am very proud to have Janet Howell as my representative... thank you Janet for all you do and for STANDING UP FOR WOMEN, regardless of their religious or polictcal bent.. THAT is what legislators should do... not bend to the whims of those who wish to control all based on their own beliefs... regardless of the dire consequenses of such control.. 

I am a very strong advocate of separation of church and state and what I see and hear from many candidates and legislators in many states and at the federal level as well at the moment seems to me to be blur further the lines of separation between church and state. When legislators fear standing up to this blurring, we the people lose.  Freedoms disappear and reason is lost. 

There seems to be more presure to push progress for women back.  I really do not understand why legislators are not considering the major impact of regulations that inhibit women's freedoms of choice...to include right to birth control, access to clinics for safe abortion, ability to apply for and be covered by insurance that does not restrict based on religious beliefs. 

I have read many of the statements made by individuals responding to this Medically inappropriate and unnecessarily burdensome regulations that would restrict access to essential health care services for the women of Virginia and further marginalize young, low-income, uninsured and minority women by decreasing their health care options and I support those who are fighting to keep women's freedoms and opinions above those of male legislators who do not have to bear any of the physical or emotional burdens of unplanned for, unwanted, rape, medically dangerous, etc, pregnancies ... I have been the victim of rape and forced sex and I am willing to state that NO WOMAN should ever have to bear these burdens. 

Please  listen to the statements of those who speak for women, not insurance companies or restrictive polictcal opinions. Do NOT over-regulate health care services provided b women's health clinics, including life-saving cancer screenings, family planning, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.
It is my hope that the regulations will be amended to be based purely on medicine and science and should not impede women's access to essential health care.

sincerely,

h katharine hunter