(NEW)  I am a Catholic and I firmly believe contraception and abortion issues are women health issues not the business of politicians or the religious community.
Maureen, Hayward

(NEW)  As a 65 year old semi-retired female, I have been fighting this battle since I was 16. I encourage you and your colleagues in the House and the Senate to stand firm on this issue. These institutions serve secular people and culture. They have no right to impose their limited religious views on me in what is considered a secular business community.
Diane, Studio City

(NEW)  I'm long past reproduction, but I appreciate the efforts of those who preceded me and fought for my rights, and now we have to work for the next generation's health.
Lisa, Los Altos Hills

(NEW)  Thanks, as ever, for your strong voice and consistent support of ensuring access to women’s health services. As a pediatrician, husband, son, and father these are vital issues to me. You said it so well in your wall street journal op ed, that individuals who freely choose to practice religion have that right; just not the right to impose their will on others.
John, Arcata

(NEW)  I am shocked that more women are not crying out against the awful and unconstitutional attack on reproductive rights that has been ramping up to frightening proportions. The assault is truly like something from the 1950's. I must say that I am fearful that the fringe of the fringe will prevail and continue to cause the erosion of protections that are so necessary. I know you will fight, but I grieve that you must waste energy doing so.
Joanne, Montclair

(NEW)  I feel by not offering women options, continues to allow the church and men to control them. It's just wrong. Thank you.
Vivian, San Diego

(NEW)  I wanted to express my gratitude to you for defending the rights of women to choose free Birth Control in our country. I applaud you for reminding those in attendance on the Senate floor, that as women; we deserve respect, as do our families. For the majority of Republicans in the Senate, to wage this effort against women's health benefits, is sliding backwards. As you so beautifully stated, "WE ARE IN THE 21ST CENTURY!"
Cynthia Anne, Roseville

(NEW)  Such an important issue should never be subject to politics, and it is a travesty that in today's political climate women's healthcare is being batted around as if it were trivial. I am in my sixties and no longer need to use birth control, but I cannot imagine how my life would have been different had it not been accessible to me. During these difficult financial times, every woman needs equal access in order to ensure they and their families remain physically and emotionally healthy. I appreciate your efforts on behalf of all women.
Linda, Encino

(NEW)  I wish that more information was put out in all forms of the media so that the public got the real story behind the contraception law and who it really affects. If any group gets US government funds, they should have to comply with the laws and rights of ALL US citizens. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
Shirley, Berkeley

Thank you for your leadership on this important issue and your eloquence in illustrating that birth control mandate provides true religious liberty with respect to this subject. Yours truly,
Gawain, San Francisco

Thank you so much for the marvelous editorial that beautifully states what needs to be known about the birth control situation.
Marcia, Willits

I am a registered nurse and it is very important for ALL women to have access to preventative testing and contraception.
Sally, Felton

I applaud your recent article on contraception...you explained everything so well, and this message must be sent to support all women so that everyone understands what this means, as well critique the opposition. Please continue in this endeavor.
Mary Ann, Atascadero

Thanks for pointing me to your WSJ editorial re birth control coverage. Excellent article. I thank you and the other senators for doing this.
Ellen, El Cerrito

I just read the op-ed that you and Senators Murray and Shaheen submitted to the Wall Street Journal regarding the Republican attempt to eliminate access to afforable contraception in this country. I wanted to express my gratitude for the work you have done on this front. I support you 100%. I was especially pleased and impressed to see the following statement in your article: "But the millions of American women who choose to use contraception should not be forced to follow religious doctrine, whether Catholic or non-Catholic." As a secular American, the imposition of any religious doctrine in any spectrum of my life is an huge concern for me. Access to affordable birth control is certainly one of the most current and pressing aspects in the fight for freedom of and from religion. I am so glad to see that you are actively protecting my right to not be subjected to a faith-based restriction in health care just because that particular faith is popular in the U.S. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.
Rebecca, Sacramento, CA

Barbara Boxer's op-ed, "Why the Birth Control Mandate Makes Sense" is excellent. The language is clear and straightforward and the tone of it is neutral in the best sense of the word. The paragraph I find particularly important is the following: "Catholic hospitals and charities are woven into the fabric of our broader society. They serve the public, receive government funds, and get special tax benefits. We have a long history of asking these institutions to play by the same rules as all our other public institutions." This clarification so needs to be put on the table. Both the Republican candidates and the Catholic Church have been obscuring this issue in their protests that their religious freedom has been violated. They should indeed play by the same rules as all our other subsidized public institutions! Thanks for the good work, and please continue to stand firm on this and other issues regarding the rights of women.
Maria, San Francisco

I am totally opposed to your views on this subject. I am a Democrat and strong supporter of reproductive rights for women, but I believe this view on health care coverage involving religious institutions runs counter to religious freedom in this country. An institution such as the Catholic Church and its affiliates should not be required to provide insurance coverage which is totally against its moral views, especially when there are ways to compromise and provide this coverage to women without infringing on religious views. I hope you, your colleagues, and the current administration reexamine your stance on this topic.
Judy, San Jose

Thank you for your op-ed in the Wall Street Journal. It is a well-reasoned, clear explanation of the need for the policy as written, and why the argument that it infringes on religious freedom is ridiculous. It is so important that the issue is discussed based on accurate information and on an honest exposition of freedom of religion and what our constitution stands for.
Jeannette, Irvine

An excellent article, Senator! It certainly raises the standard of comments in the WSJ.
Allen, Santa Cruz

So very right on! Eloquent and clearly laid out argument. Thank you for clarifying this issue which should never have been part of the national conversation in the first place. And thank you for laying the blame where it rightly goes.
Laurie, Mission Viejo

As a former Benefits administrator, I believe that until we separate health care insurance from employers, similar situations will continue to happen. Why should employers decide what type of insurance their employees have, based on the political and or religious beliefs of the employers? I have spoken to many doctors who think this is one of the major problems of our health care system and they resent being told by employers and the insurance companies how they should treat their patients. We need to start looking at options that will remove employers from our health care system. This solution will also benefit employers since they will not have to compete with international companies who do not have to pay for healthcare for their employees.
Margie, Palo Alto

I agree with the notion, concept and full practice of women’s rights. What I do not agree with is the federal government dictating to individuals and organizations how to exercise their god given right of conscious decisions. This is an right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. DO NOT TREAD ON US!!!
Anthony, Modesto

Thank you for working so hard for women's health. I would like to make a suggestion, perhaps you can share it with President Obama as a way out of creating havoc with the Catholic Institutions. I worked for several Catholic institutions which have never offered birth control. The way I got women to be able to get coverage that worked at Catholic Institutions was to create a FLEX PLAN account...and use that for paying for my birth control methods. If the institutions provide a way for folks to save and use the money for things that are not covered in their health plans, then everyone kind of wins and kind of loses...it is called compromise. Personally, I think the government should stay out of religious doctrine and the religious should definitely stay out of government. Let's not start trying to co mingle these two evils. Sincerely,
Michelle, Alameda

As a child of the sixties, I am astounded that women are still fighting this battle and am fully committed to women's complete equality and partnering with men and women to further everyone's health and well being.
Katie, Ojai

Thank you so much for your perfectly stated Op ed on access to birth control. As one of the people disgusted by most of what is going on in this country, I am so pleased when I finally get to read common sense arguments like this.
Kinsley, San Francisco

I want to thank you & Senators Murray & Shaheen for standing up for the right of women to have access to contraception. Sincerely,
Michelle, Santa Rosa

Short and sweet. STAY OUT OF MY RELIGION. Rather than promoting the healthcare mandate you should read the First Amendment to the Constitution!!!!! This mandate is dead when it finds its way to the Supreme Court and you and the others who passed the legislation will look like fools.
Philip, Tustin

In regards to the health insurance issue regarding private hospitals and such I would suggest the following solution. Such institutions, such as Catholic hospitals, would offer a voucher for its employees to purchase their own health insurance policy. This would allow the employer to provide for insurance indirectly and the employee to decide on the plan that they can morally subscribe to joining. Either the institution, the government or an outside agency could help organize alternative policies with health providers for the employees to consider. This should satisfy any reasonable concerns.
Bruce, Madera

Where to start? My wife and I are always astounded by the number of MEN who want to control women's health issues, abortion, etc., and why on earth should these be POLITICAL issues.
John, El Cajon

Birth control is legal. Abortion is legal. What's the problem? Churches should not be above the law! They should not be allowed to prevent access. And our government should not aid them in doing that. Separation of Church and State! Let them teach natural family planning. Fine. But their followers don't practice that. They should have access to that insurance. It's cost effective, fair, and legal.
Roxana, Rancho Santa Margarita

Conservatives, who think they are so fiscally responsible, don't understand the difference between what it costs to fund birth control measures and supporting a child for 18 years that may be born to an unmarried woman who may need government assistance. Please support a woman's right to choose without a government mandate or religious beliefs interfering.
Judith, Lafayette

I believe that Obamacare has overstepped the freedom to live, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The individual mandate is unconstitutional and I hope it gets overturned by the Supreme Court. The government cannot give rights to people. Only God gives us rights. When the gov. mandates what and how a religious organization is expected to comply with laws that do not represent their values.
Helen, Healdsburg

I find you op-ed highly offensive and misleading. This ruling or what every you wish to call it has nothing to do with women's health and who provides it. It is another means at which gov't is attempting to control the lives of all Americans. First of all I have a real hard time being told by you and many others in gov't (regardless of which side of the isle they set on) telling me who I have to support and give my money too. Secondly, there are many other place a woman can go to get said health services for free. I truly believe that this administration is over stepping its authority. So I cannot, will not, agree with or support your op-ed. Sincerely
Randy, La Mirada

Keep up the good work!!! We cannot & will not let them get away with this war on Women.
Juanita, Bakersfield

I could not agree more and applaud your speaking out on this essential issue. Thank you so much for supporting women, women's health and a thoughtful, meaningful approach to this issue.
Carol, Berkeley

Constitutionally, how can a religious group's dogma override an individual's right to make personal health care decisions and choices regardless of sex? They are not dictating what health care decisions men can make for themselves. Is that not also discrimination?
Joan, Orinda

Thank you for presenting a sound case for why all citizens should fight to uphold access to contraception for those who need it and choose to use it. What a typical right wing distortion, no one is forcing these Catholic hospitals to make employees use contraception--but rather making it available to those who choose to use it.
Audrey, Mountain View

I have a suggestion for the opponents. Ask them if they would give up their tax exempt status over this fight. If they want to continue this fight, they will lose tax exemption. Women I know, Catholic or otherwise cannot believe we are having this conversation. Thanks for hanging in there for all Americans.
Catherine, Atascadero