2005-2006 Regular Session 1st House HR 1214

Summary: The Best Help for Rape Victims Act would amend the National Protocol for the Treatment of Sexual-Assault Survivors to ensure that women who have been raped are informed that emergency contraception (EC) -- a.k.a. Plan B or the "morning-after pill" -- is an option, and be provided with EC if they so desire.

What You Should Know: Each year approximately 300,000 women are sexually assaulted in the United States, and about 25,000 of those women become pregnant. Despite this fact, the first-ever National Protocol for the treatment of sexual-assault survivors, recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice, contains no information on EC. EC is a safe and effective method of preventing unwanted pregnancies, and can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex.

Primary Sponsor(s): Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)

Introduction Date: 3/10/2005

Last Major Action:

4/4/2005. Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.