Honorable Constance A. Morella
2228 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 

Honorable Jim Greenwood
2436 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 

Honorable Louise Slaughter
2347 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 

Honorable Diana DeGette
1530 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 

Re: Compassionate Care for Female Sexual Assault Survivors Act

Dear Representatives Morella, Greenwood, Slaughter and DeGette: 

We write to convey the American Civil Liberties Union's strong support for the "Compassionate Care for Female Sexual Assault Survivors Act." This bill will ensure that survivors of sexual assault receive emergency medical care that is necessary to prevent pregnancy and to protect their reproductive rights by denying federal health care dollars to hospitals that fail to offer emergency contraception to sexual assault survivors in their emergency rooms. 

Although an estimated 25,000 women become pregnant each year as a result of rape or incest, many hospitals fail to provide rape survivors with emergency contraception ("EC") and some fail even to inform women that this treatment is available. EC -- which consists of high doses of oral contraceptives taken in two steps -- is a safe, effective, FDA-approved method of preventing pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. But it is critical that EC be offered as soon as a rape survivor presents in an emergency room: EC's effectiveness decreases as time passes. It is ineffective if the first dose is not taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse and it is most effective if the first dose is taken within twelve hours. 

A rape survivor who does not obtain EC in an emergency room can only obtain it with a prescription or directly from a doctor. A woman who has just survived a sexual assault should not have to locate EC on her own, and to lose precious time in doing so. 

In addition, many sexual assault survivors are taken to the nearest hospital by the police or by ambulance. Women in these circumstances do not have the opportunity to inquire about a particular hospital's policy on EC. This problem is particularly acute in rural areas, where there is often no more than one hospital within a reasonable distance of the rape survivor. EC is basic emergency care for sexual assault survivors and should be offered at every hospital in this country that treats patients on an emergency basis. 

The ACLU applauds your effort to address the urgent medical needs of sexual assault survivors and to protect their reproductive rights. 

Sincerely, 

Laura W. Murphy
Director 

Gregory T. Nojeim
Associate Director and Chief Legislative Counsel