Bill Clinton: “Last year, the FDA made emergency contraception, EC, available over the counter for women 18 years of age and older.…”

“Last year, the FDA made emergency contraception, EC, available over the counter for women 18 years of age and older. Research shows that emergency contraception is safe and effective for preventing pregnancy. More than 70 major medical organizations, including the America Academy of Pediatrics, recommended that Plan B be made available over the counter. Senator Murray and I spent a great deal of time and effort tracking the FDA's 'non-decision' of whether emergency contraception should be made available over the counter. We have come a long way in the fight for access to EC. Women deserve access to this medically approved drug and our servicewomen are no different. By providing access to emergency contraception, up to 95 percent of those unintended pregnancies could be prevented if emergency contraception is administered within the first 24 to 72 hours. For survivors of rape and incest, emergency contraception offers hope for healing. Current Department of Defense policy allows emergency contraception to be available at military health care facilities. Currently, it is available at some facilities, but not others. The Compassionate Care for Servicewomen Act would simply ensure broader access by including EC on the basic core formulary, BCF, a list of medications stocked at all military health care facilities.”