I would like to comment on the the regulations that threaten the availablity and the rights of women to have a safe, legal first-trimester abortion and preventive reproduction health care in multiple locations throughout the state of Virginia.  Extensive and burdensome regulations placed uponf the clinic buildings that are unrelated to the health services provided and have no proven medical benefit are new regularions that will only have the effect of limiting a woman's right to have an abortion and her freedom to make her own decisions about her health. The financial cost to these clinics will place a hardship and limit women's acces to affordable,  safe health treatment.  As it appears to me, the purpose of these regulations is to place restrictions on a woman's right to an abortion as granted by the Supreme Court.  Many people may not be aware or remember what the atmosphere was for women in search of abortions and reproductive care prior to the landmark case of Roe vs Wade, but I was in college and saw first hand the mutilation, pain, and safety risks of these dangerous times for women.  Many girls of college age traveled out of state to have prodecures that put their life at risk from infection, incomplete health services, and/or dangerous surgery from personal attempts at abortion.  We can not go back to a time of fear and danger when there are medical, safe prodecures availabe.  The attorney general of Virginia strong armed the health clinic regulations by threatening that he could not defend them in court.  Reprisal and the strong against weak are still tactics that are used by people who do not wish to obey the Supreme Couts and its decision.  The clinics that are affected by these regulations have impressive safety records.  Over regulation will inhibit a woman's right to birth control services and decisions that should be made by the individual and her doctor.  We need to stand behind the right of a women's choice and not control it or surpress it.    I hope that the committee addresses this issue in the light of medical science and the needs of all women in the state of Virginia and the United States of America.  Keep the clinics safe from these unnecessary new regulations.  

Sincerely, 

Mary Beets