RELEASE: Gov. Whitmer on Committee Passage of Reproductive Health Act Bills

September 20, 2023   

Gov. Whitmer on Committee Passage of Reproductive Health Act Bills

Legislation supported by a majority of Michiganders will roll back arcane laws that put politically motivated, medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued the following statement after passage of major pieces of the Reproductive Health Act out of the Michigan House of Representatives Health Policy Committee.

“Today, we took an important step forward on the Reproductive Health Act, commonsense legislation to repeal politically motivated, medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion that criminalize doctors providing medical care, jack up out of pocket health care costs, and impose needless regulations on health centers.

“Michiganders voted overwhelmingly to put abortion rights in our state constitution back in November. We must ensure that they can access the reproductive health care they need without delay, without paying high costs out of pocket, and without fear of prosecution for experiencing a miscarriage or a stillbirth.

“Michiganders support the Reproductive Health Act. I urge the legislature to pass it.”

Michiganders Support the RHA

In November 2022, 56.65% of Michiganders voted for Proposal 3, protecting abortion rights in our state constitution.  
In a May 2023 poll, 55% of women ages 18-49 say they or someone they know has made a decision due to worries about accessing abortion.

In the same poll, 65% of adults are concerned bans on abortion would make it difficult for doctors to safely treat patients, leading to complications.

In an August 2023 poll specifically conducted in electorally competitive legislative districts (Senate districts 11, 12, 35 and House districts 27, 31, 38, 44, 58, 61, 83, 84, 103, and 109):

71% of Michiganders support preventing criminal punishment for miscarriages and stillbirths. 
68% of Michiganders say abortion is a decision that should be left to a woman and her doctor. 
61% of Michiganders support removing medically unnecessary rules that shut down clinics. 
61% of Michiganders support allowing private insurance companies to include coverage for all pregnancy-related health care, including abortion. 
58% of Michiganders support allowing advanced practice clinicians who are properly trained to provide abortion care.

54% of Michiganders support allowing Medicaid to cover all pregnancy-related health care, including abortion. 
53% of Michiganders support repealing laws that force patients seeking abortion care to delay their care and receive biased, medically inaccurate information.

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