Dear Friend,

I wish I didn’t have to send this email, but our worst nightmare has just happened. After intense debate led by our reproductive rights champions, the 6-week abortion ban passed the Republican supermajority-controlled Florida House. The bill now goes to Governor DeSantis’s desk and it is just a matter of time before it becomes state law.

The impact of this incredibly cruel ban will not just be felt in Florida, but across the country. Florida was the last remaining state in the South where people could access reproductive healthcare. We’ve heard stories of patients driving through the night from Alabama or Mississippi, arriving scared, hungry, or escaping a violent partner, to be able to have an abortion. And now, they’ll have to travel even further just to find basic care. It’s deplorable.

We knew this was coming when Republicans gained a supermajority in the 2022 election. But this bill did not go down without a fight. Our endorsed reproductive rights champions filed over 50 amendments on the abortion ban and we could not be more proud or grateful for the work they are doing. Join us in thanking them for their courage and determination.

Amendments by Rep. Anna Eskamani to rename the bill to the “Forced Pregnancy Act,” to allow more time under this abortion ban for young people who have to go through the judicial bypass process, to repeal the mandatory delay law, which requires you to make two separate trips to the provider, 24 hours apart, before obtaining an abortion, among numerous others. Florida will be the only state that requires two trips to the provider, all before 6 weeks.
An amendment by Rep. Robin Bartleman to make the rape and incest exception more workable, allowing for a sworn statement to suffice as proof.
An amendment by Rep. Lindsay Cross to remove the telehealth prohibition.
An amendment by Rep. Angie Nixon to shift the $25 million for anti-abortion non-medical fake clinics to the Dept. of Education for the school readiness program to expand childcare assistance for low-income working families.
An amendment by Rep. Katherine Waldron requiring 3 months of fully paid parental leave for people denied a wanted abortion under this abortion ban.
An amendment by Rep. Yvonne Hinson to restore the language that bill sponsors have stricken, that would allow AHCA to adopt rules even if they place an undue burden on the pregnant person.
An amendment by Rep. Ashley Gantt that would ensure if a person is denied an abortion after 15 weeks and is a survivor of rape, incest, or human trafficking, the offender would be responsible for child support and would lose parental rights upon conviction.
An amendment by Rep. Rita Harris to strike the abortion ban from this legislation.
An amendment by House Dem Leader Fentrice Driskell to take the $25 million for fake clinics and instead give $12.5 million to the Dept. of Health to implement the telehealth minority maternity care pilot program and $12.5 million to provide fertility services to state employees.
An amendment by Rep. Christine Hunschofsky to allow for an abortion if it is in the best interest of the pregnant person’s mental health. (Both SB 300 and current FL statute make no exceptions for mental health or psychological conditions).
An amendment by Rep. Hillary Cassel to provide a religious exemption to this abortion ban for people whose religion allows for a termination of pregnancy beyond what is in this religiously inspired abortion ban.
An amendment by Rep. Marie Woodson to make an exception for survivors of domestic violence.

Your support of Ruth’s List helped send these women to Tallahassee. As we often say, they have our backs, let’s make sure we have theirs. Can you make a donation today to help ensure these remarkable women leaders stay in office, and that we can recruit and elect more leaders who will join them in the fight for our reproductive freedom?

I know we’re all feeling a range of emotions right now — angry, frustrated, discouraged, horrified, saddened, and so many more. This work isn’t easy. But I know what we’re doing makes a difference, and that’s why I won’t stop. And I hope you won’t either. If you’re able, please make a donation today to help us elect more reproductive rights champions. We need you now more than ever.

Onward,