I have written several letters to the Board of Health over the past year urging them not to implement these new TRAP requirements on existing women's health care centers simply because a group of conservative legislators are trying to abolish abortion rights for women in Virginia. Apparently they do not realize these health care centers provide other resources for women and may be the only health care women without health insurance receive. A judge ruled in 2012 that these new requirements would only apply to newly built centers. This sounded like a wonderful compromise to me and  a sensible move. Unfortunately, Attorney General Cucinelli threatened the judges with liability dangers and they backed off.

Once again, I strongly urge the Board of Health to oppose these TRAP requirements on existing Health Care Centers because they have nothing to do with the health care being provided to women without health insurance. Instead these regulations could sensibly be required of any new centers built in the future.

Judith Garth