Ajello, Goldin Pre-File Legislation to Protect Reproductive Healthcare Rights
Friday, December 21, 2018
State Senator Gayle Goldin and State Representative Edith Ajello pre-filed legislation to enshrine the reproductive healthcare rights protected by Roe v. Wade to defend against threats at the federal level.
“Rhode Islanders overwhelmingly support the reproductive rights that are currently the law of the land. But our state law books include multiple, in some cases, very intentional contradictions to the rights articulated by Roe v. Wade. Unfortunately, with the individuals in power in Washington right now, there is a very real chance that Roe v. Wade could be overturned at some point in the near future, leaving Rhode Island women subject to these insidiously restrictive, harmful and patriarchal reproductive laws. Half a century of progress would be wiped away, and we would return to the days when women were forced to put their lives at risk in making personal reproductive health decisions,” said Ajello.
Goldin added, “Despite Rhode Islanders’ decisive support of reproductive rights, our state has lacked the political will to repeal these unconstitutional laws for more than 45 years, and instead has even tried to create new ones that have been struck down. Ignoring the will of the people in this case will have devastating impacts on women’s health in the very real possibility that those opposed to these rights succeed in eliminating their protection at the federal level. Women deserve better from the leaders of our state. Rhode Island must affirm, once and for all, that a women’s right to make decisions about her own body is protected in our state, before the federal government stops doing that job for us.”
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The legislation is identical to the bill that Goldin and Ajello introduced during the 2018 session.
The Reproductive Health Care Act would prohibit the state or any of its agencies from interfering with any individual’s reproductive health care, including a decision to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or after that point in cases when necessary to preserve the woman’s health or life.
It would eliminate several chapters that make it a criminal offense to perform an abortion or help a woman obtain one, as well as a law enacted in 1973 following the Roe v. Wade decision that defines human life as commencing “at the instant of conception.”
It would also eliminate laws requiring that the husband of any married woman is notified before she can terminate a pregnancy and prohibiting insurers from covering the procedure.
In support of the legislation, The Womxn Project (TWP) issued the following statement:
“Even if someone does not believe they would seek an abortion, poll after poll affirms that people believe it should be a personal decision we should each make based on our own beliefs and circumstances with the support of trusted loved ones by our side. In fact, more than 70% of Rhode Islander voters say that they support the right to abortion. The problem is that access is being threatened.
Whether it is the lack of availability of care, restrictions that put up barriers or the threat of Roe v. Wade being overturned by the Supreme Court, the ability of each person to make their own decision about pregnancy, parenting and abortion is truly under attack.
At The Womxn Project, we believe that people should be able to get an abortion without barriers or judgment. This is not about politics. It is about our health and the ability to control our own futures. That is why we are thrilled to see that State Senator Gayle Goldin and State Representative Edith Ajello just pre-filed the Reproductive Health Care Act (RHCA), a bill to ensure that when someone in our state needs an abortion that they have the right to get one.
It is not enough to fight back attempts to take away access to abortion. We need to draw the line and take this important proactive step. We need to make it clear that in Rhode Island we should all have the ability to manage our health, plan our families and control our futures. We urge Rhode Island lawmakers to pay attention to the strong support for this common sense measure and vote the Reproductive Health Care Act through this year.”
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