Executive Director Silvia Henriquez in the NY Times on Health Care Reform

A Letter to the Editor by Silvia Henriquez, Executive Director of NLIRH, was published in the New York Times this week.

To the Editor:
Re “Coverage Without Borders,” by Roger Mahony (Op-Ed, Dec. 8):
Cardinal Mahony’s article in favor of health care access for immigrants is an important message to elected officials grappling with reform legislation. Sadly, I couldn’t help note the irony of advocating on behalf of immigrants, while in the same breath urging policy makers to deny reproductive health care for millions of women. Over half of all immigrants are women.
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health knows very well the devastating impact of making abortion elusive for those who can’t pay with personal funds. Latinas are among the poorest in this country and tend to lack access to health insurance in higher numbers than other groups. In fact, one in four women living in poverty who wants to choose abortion can’t because politicians prevent federal tax dollars from covering the procedure.
The lesson learned from the last three decades of misguided federal policy on abortion is that creating a two-tier system of access to health care is unfair, punitive and harmful.
To quote Cardinal Mahony: “To allow people’s basic health needs to be trumped by divisive politics violates American standards of decency and compassion.” We couldn’t agree more.
Silvia Henriquez Executive Director National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health New York, Dec. 8, 2009