Republicans in Congress told us the “Big Beautiful Bill” was about saving money and preventing fraud. Remember that?

Well, where are their voices now?

Nearly $10 million in U.S. taxpayer-funded contraceptives—purchased, packaged, and prepped to save lives around the world—are now sitting in a warehouse in Belgium, awaiting incineration. Not because they’re expired. Not because of fraud. Not because of abuse. Just because the Trump Administration thinks women shouldn’t have them.

These are long-lasting contraceptives—implants, IUDs, pills—sitting in sealed containers, viable until 2031, meant for women in refugee camps, war zones, and countries where sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war.

But now the contraceptives are caught in the web of ideological cruelty—and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has refused to let the U.N. or NGOs like UNFPA or MSI Reproductive Choices distribute them – even though there would be no further cost to the U.S.

If the goal of Congress was to eliminate waste, this is the time to speak up. And if, as we’re told in every floor speech, members of Congress “care deeply about women,” then here’s the test.

There is no time to waste. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Brian Schatz (D-HI) have introduced the “Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars” act to require the contraceptives to be made available for their intended purposes before they expire and prohibit their destruction.

You can either call or email your Representative and U.S. Senators.

or call (202) 224-3121 and ask the operator to transfer you to your Representative’s and Senators’ Offices.

SUGGESTED MESSAGE:

Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I’m calling from [Your City].

I’m urging you to speak out against the destruction of $10 million in U.S.-funded contraceptives now stored in Belgium. These are paid for, fully usable, and meant to save women’s lives—yet they’re being burned out of spite.

The “Big Beautiful Bill” promised to stop waste and fraud—this is pure waste, with no fraud, just cruelty.

Please ask Secretary Rubio to release these supplies to the U.N. or trusted nonprofits—not destroy them. This is about women’s lives.

Thank you.

Every blister pack of pills, every unopened IUD, was meant to offer a woman agency—a sliver of power in a world too often determined to strip it away.

So now, we ask: Does your representative and U.S. Senators care about women’s lives? Or just the soundbites?

Make the call. Or send the email. Share this message with you friends and ask them to help you hold Congress to their word.

For the women of the world,

Ellie Smeal

President

Kathy Spillar

Executive Director