Last week, Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) and Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY) introduced legislation that would increase public education and awareness about emergency contraception. The bill is called the Emergency Contraception Act. Considering that 49% of pregnancies in the United States are unintended, measures like this are clearly needed.

This bill would educate both health care providers and the general population about the safety, effectiveness, and availability of emergency contraceptives. It would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to form an official program for disseminating this vital information. And, in case you are thinking that everyone already knows about emergency contraception, ponder this: 1 in 3 American women of reproductive age aren't even aware of this pregnancy-prevention method. When 3 million women every year in the United States have an unplanned pregnancy, increased education is a must.

Increased access to and use of EC results in fewer unplanned pregnancies and less need for abortion services. Tell your Senator and Representative that you demand that they support the Emergency Contraception Education Act.