Friend,

Last week, the Supreme Court failed to block Texas' extreme anti-abortion law, S.B. 8.

This law encourages private citizens to sue health care providers who provide abortion services, effectively shutting down clinics and putting women’s health at risk. The law allows any private citizen to collect $10,000 in damages against a health care provider who performs an abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat -- usually about 6 weeks. That is 18 weeks less than the standard set by Roe v. Wade.

Let's be clear: The Supreme Court ruling is a step in the wrong direction for our country and will put women at risk. Every woman should have access to quality, safe reproductive health care and health care providers should not have to live in fear simply for doing their jobs.

This is not the time to hope the courts will protect abortion access as it hangs on by a thread. As governor, I will defend access to reproductive care in our state. That's why I am proud to have worked alongside so many to pass the Reproductive Privacy Act, which will ensure Rhode Islanders’ access to abortion through state law. But we need the leaders across the country to act and protect reproductive rights.

If you support codifying Roe v. Wade to protect reproductive health care from these unprecedented threats, join me in adding your name today >>

Thank you,

Seth