Tonight the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska will meet to discuss lobbying for federal legislation that provides contraceptive drugs and other forms of family planning to college students at a discounted rate.
The discussion will take place during ASUN's weekly meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room at the Nebraska Union.
According to the full text of the bill S. 21 – Prevention First aims to "reduce unintended pregnancy, reduce abortions and improve access to women's health care."
The "Prevention Through Affordable Access Act" pertains most directly to UNL students, said Emily Zimmer, a senior political science major and president of ASUN. The act would expand Medicaid rebates to drug manufacturers, allowing university clinics to provide drugs to students at lower costs.
Other actions entailed in Prevention First are grants funding education on abstinence and contraception, a requirement that federally-funded hospitals offer emergency contraceptives to rape victims and increased information from the Department of Health and Human Services on emergency contraceptives.
The bill was introduced to the U.S. Senate on Jan. 6 and is currently in committee.
ASUN has supported discounted birth control in the past. In April 2007, ASUN senators passed a bill supporting the American College Health Association's efforts to change laws that cut off the discounts. Since then, the rebate laws in question have not changed.
Marlene Beyke, director of administration for ASUN, expects that an official vote by senators will be held off for another week, to allow extra time for senators to gauge student opinions.
Emailing ASUN at asun1@unl.edu, Beyke said, is also an option.
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