Issue: Women's Health Office Act 

**WHOA was included as a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) and as of March 23, 2010 is now law. Thank you for your support. Please visit our Advocacy Issues page for other ways to show your support for women's health research.

What Was the Issue and Why Should I Care?

Special offices in the federal government dedicated to improving the health of all women were operating on shaky ground. At any moment, their funding could be cut or they could be forced to close their doors.

The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) worked with Congress to see that this did not happen and women’s health remains a top priority. A bill called the Women’s Health Office Act (WHOA) was reintroduced in the House of Representatives on July 16, 2009 by Representatives Maloney (D-NY) and Murphy (D-CT). If made law WHOA (H.R. 3432) would protect the offices and provide them with statutory authorization. To read Represenative Maloney's floor statement on WHOA, click here.

SWHR did everything in its power to guarantee that women’s health research has a bright future. By joining forces with SWHR in support of efforts like WHOA, you too can help see that a positive change is on the horizon for the health of all women!

An example of the importance of this legislation was shown to us in late February 2007, when it seemed likely that the FDA’s Office of Women’s Health (OWH) would have $1.2 million of its $4 million annual budget cut. February is almost half way into the fiscal year and OWH had spent or committed more money than it will have for the entire year. The cut would have forced the office to stop all programmatic operations for the rest of 2007. The looming cut represented roughly half of the OWH program budget, which goes toward research grants and outreach activities, both of which are tasks Congress specifically asks OWH to perform. The cut would have gone against presidential and congressional requests, as both intend for OWH to be funded at $4 million in 2007.

Fortunately public outcry and the efforts of several Members of Congress prevented this budget cut from actually occurring, but it was a wake up call as to the necessity of WHOA.

WHOA Is Now Law

Dear Friend and Colleague:

On behalf of the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR), I would like to thank you for your support in SWHR’s efforts to include the Women’s Health Office Act (WHOA) as a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that President Obama recently signed into law. The passage of WHOA marks a tremendous achievement for women's health and for women’s health research.

With WHOA now law, the federal offices of women’s health no longer face the threat of defunding or elimination and American women can now be assured that their unique needs are being met in every federal health agency. Further, women can now be secure in the knowledge that the research conducted at these agencies is applicable and beneficial to them and their families.

It was a pleasure working with you in this effort. Thank you again for your support and we look forward to future collaborations!

Sincerely,

Martha Nolan
Vice President for Public Policy
Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)

Read the Press Release