Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN TX On June 1 2015
the Texas Womens Healthcare Coalition officially designated five state legislators as Womens Health Heroes of the 84
th Legislature.
Senator Jane Nelson and
Representatives Sarah Davis Jessica Farrar Donna Howard and John Zerwas showed outstanding commitment to improving womens access to preventive healthcare including contraception through the three principal state programs for womens health.
Through their leadership these programs saw an increase of $50 million for the next biennium over the 2014-2015 funding levels.
This session saw impressive dedication to increasing the funding in these programs and to improving their delivery of services" said Dr. Janet Realini chair of the Texas Womens Healthcare Coalition. The tireless work of our five recipients on behalf of the preventive care services provided through the Texas Womens Health Program the Expanded Primary Health Care program and the Family Planning program make them true Womens Health Heroes."
Particularly noteworthy this session were:
- Representative Howards strategic work to include key budget riders and amendments;
- Representative Farrars clear-sighted guidance of the House Womens Health Caucus;
- Representative Davis critically important support for womens healthcare in budget deliberations;
- and Representative Zerwas behind-the-scenes work for prevention programs.
- As Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and as a budget conferee Senator Nelson strongly supported increased funding for the states programs that provide contraception for low-income women.
Many recent
reports show the devastating effects of the 2011 cuts to womens healthcare funding and the subsequent decrease in provider capacity and number of clients served. This sessions funding increase is crucial in our work of improving the health of women children and families in Texas.
For more information contact: AArrambide@TexasWHC.org.
The Texas Womens Healthcare Coalition is a coalition of 60 organizations dedicated to achieving access to preventive healthcare for all Texas women.
