1. United States
2. N.J.
3. Letter

Recent reports state that the cost of condoms is likely to rise 20-30% in upcoming weeks. Why? Because Trump’s naval blockades are making it difficult for the largest prophylactic manufacturers in Malaysia to acquire the synthetic rubber that condoms are made of. Why am I writing my congressman about this? Good question. I’ll tell you. Under Trump- and by default YOUR watch- the United States Supreme Court repealed Roe v. Wade, leaving women’s healthcare and access to safe abortions up to the states. Nearly every red state has eliminated interventional care now, even in cases of medical necessity, rape, and molestation. Affordable access to birth control is one of the few things the women in these states still had- and a rise in condom costs will significantly reduce their accessibility in largely red states with poor economies and low academic scores. While I don’t expect this to bother Congressman Kean- after all, his nose is firmly pressed to Trump’s rear end- it should bother everyone else. A lack of access to affordable contraceptive means a raise in teen pregnancies. While the GOP has made it clear that they’d like to breed teenagers for population increases, sane people know that an increase in teen pregnancies means increased poverty and increased strains on already significantly defunded social services. So I am writing today asking you to do something beyond your daily wheelhouse. Be a hero. End the war in Iran. End the blockades. End the stronghold over women’s healthcare. Show up for your constituents.