Originally appeared on Congresswoman Linda Sánchez's official website on February 28, 2012.

All women deserve access to contraception. What is being debated before the Committee has nothing to do with religious liberty. The regulations that the Obama Administration adopted were developed by an objective, non-partisan panel. This hearing has everything to do with House Republicans trying to control the decisions best left to a woman and her doctor.

All women should have access to birth control regardless of where they work and how much money they make. Despite what many of my colleagues believe, contraception is not a cheap, easily accessible solution for all women. Nearly a third of women risk health problems by inconsistently using birth control pills to save money.

Birth control is preventive health care. Studies have shown that birth control has prevented 100,000 deaths and 200,000 occurrences of ovarian cancer. On top of that, a large percentage of women use the Pill for other health reasons, not for contraceptive purposes. Millions of women would be denied this medical care should these regulations not go into effect.

Most importantly, birth control is a matter of individual choice. That choice should be made by a woman, not her employer.