Dear Virginia Board of Health,

I strongly urge you to oppose the new TRAP regulations proposed by Governor McDonnell. Not only are these regulations unnecessary, they are extremely dangerous to women who are seeking reproductive health care. The proposed regulations are only a backhanded way to close women's health care clinics all across Virginia, which will hugely impede access to abortions for women all across Virginia. It is a common misconception that young teenagers who didn't think about using contraception are the only women seeking abortions - women of all ages, in all kinds of circumstances seek abortion. Please do not support a bill that will close our Virginia clinics because of the stigma surrounding abortion. It is a health issue. Abortions can save women's lives.

Overregulation of our Virginia clinics will also restrict access to a plethora of other services - abortion is not the only thing that women's health care clinics are concerned with. For example, a number of Planned Parenthood clinics are threatened with closure across the state, but abortions are only three percent of the services they provide. If the clinics close, women who need access to breast cancer screenings, family planning, and STI testing and treatment will be left without options. The services that women's health care clinics provide save lives.

Please do not restrict my access to reproductive health care. It could save my life, and the lives of many other women all across Virginia. Please do not pass these TRAP regulations.

Thank you for consideration.

SIncerely,

Sarah Hogg