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Dear Friend,
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, I have used every tool in my toolbox to protect reproductive freedom in Michigan. I took bold steps to ensure Michiganders kept their bodily autonomy and that the doctors and nurses who treated them would not be criminally prosecuted.
Last Friday, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a ruling that put at risk In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), a procedure that allows millions of Americans to have children every year. This is unacceptable. Since Alabama?s decision, there have been bills introduced in over a dozen other states and at the federal level to ban IVF.
This decision has already caused families in Alabama to lose access to IVF, as clinics announced they would not continue to provide the procedure. To make sure there was no uncertainty in Michigan, I directed the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to remind health care providers in Michigan that they are protected under my executive order from extradition or punishment if they provide reproductive care. MDHHS and I will continue closely monitoring potential attacks on reproductive freedom and working together so Michiganders can get the care they need. I believe every American deserves the ability to make their own decisions about their body and when and how to start a family.
 If you?ve benefitted from having access to IVF, I want to hear from you. Click below to share your story.
As we make strides to protect IVF, we must remain vigilant about protecting access to abortion too. In November 2022, Michiganders voted overwhelmingly to pass Proposal 3, which enshrined the right to reproductive freedom in the Michigan constitution. This past November, Right to Life Michigan filed a lawsuit challenging Proposition 3, which could put at risk everything Michiganders voted for, including abortion rights, contraception, and protections for IVF.
I will keep fighting like hell to protect reproductive freedom and give families as many options as possible as they start or grow their families. We will fight for your freedoms in Michigan. You deserve to make decisions that are best for you and your family along with your doctor-- and without unelected government officials getting in the way. No matter what, we got your back.
 Gretchen Whitmer
Governor
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