An Expert Voice on Women's Health

By Val Arkoosh, MD, MPH

I took a leading role to help pass health care reform because the status quo was inadequate for my patients, particularly women - and they couldn't wait any longer. Women and their families need an ally willing to step up and serve as a credible voice on their behalf in Washington. I'm running to build upon that work and take that same proactive spirit to Congress.

As a physician who has cared for moms for over 28 years, I firmly believe that politicians should not be involved in a woman's personal medical decisions about her pregnancy. In Congress, I will use my background as a physician to improve access to quality, affordable health care for women, including family planning and cancer screenings:

• Defending a woman's right to choose by strengthening federal legislation that ensures access to reproductive health services and promotes women's health

• Strengthening the Affordable Care Act to continue making women's health services affordable for all women, such as maternity care, prescription drugs, mammograms and preventive health services

• Protecting doctor-patient confidentiality, allowing doctors to provide the best care for their patients without having to ...

Hardworking families are struggling, especially moms who are either sole or partial breadwinners, with the economic uncertainty that comes with living paycheck to paycheck. Working women deserve a fair shake and a decent shot to support themselves and their families, which is why I support these commonsense solutions to help working families get ahead, not just get by:

• Promoting equal pay for equal work to stop shortchanging women in the workplace

• Creating paid family and medical leave programs that allows workers to take time off to care for a new child or other family member

• Expanding access to affordable childcare and early childhood education for working parents + because families shouldn't have to forfeit a decent education for their child just to pay the bills