As we wait for a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a challenge to a Mississippi law that bans abortion at 15 weeks, we are busy here in Maryland, DC, and NoVa fighting to protect and expand rights at the local level. This case could have enormous consequences across the country — including potentially overturning Roe v. Wade which would make abortion inaccessible for millions of people — especially BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, people with low incomes, and other marginalized communities.
PPADMV is fighting to ensure that residents of our communities, and anyone who may need to travel here for care, will find abortion and all reproductive health care not only legal, but truly accessible in our region.
ICYMI: President Biden nominates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court
On February 25, President Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill the seat being vacated by the retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. As a former clerk for Justice Breyer, Judge Jackson brings deep knowledge and broad experience, having served as a federal appellate judge, a federal district court judge, a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, an attorney in private practice, and as a federal public defender. Beyond her extensive professional achievements, it is clear that she has a deep commitment to safeguarding individual rights and liberties. This historic nomination of the first Black woman to ever be named to serve on the Supreme Court is long overdue, and we urge the Senate to swiftly move forward on her confirmation.
Maryland
Join us in supporting groundbreaking reproductive health legislation in Maryland! While the right to abortion has been Maryland law since 1992, more than two-thirds of Maryland counties don't even have an abortion provider. Qualified providers are prevented from providing abortion care due to outdated language. Across the state, Marylanders are forced to pay out of pocket or seek third-party funding systems to pay for their abortion care. And while the law guarantees the right to an abortion, that right could be stronger. This legislative session, we need you to help pass:
SB 890, HB 937, and HB 952: Lifts restrictions on qualified abortion providers, creates funding for people who want to train in abortion care, and ensures abortion care is covered with no cost sharing.
HB 1171: Declaration of Rights - Right to Reproductive Liberty enshrines the right to abortion care in the Maryland Constitution.
Contact your legislators TODAY to tell them that abortion care is health care, and health care is a human right. And special thanks to Delegate Ariana Kelly, Senator Delores Kelley, and Speaker Adrienne Jones for their leadership!
Shout out to our partners, Planned Parenthood of Maryland (PPM): On January 21, PPM literally brought lights to the Maryland state capital to illuminate the ongoing fight to defend abortion rights. Created by artist Alicia Eggert in collaboration with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the “OURs” traveling light-sculpture installation casts light upon the fight for abortion rights.
Virginia
PPADMV was proud to join with our partner Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia (PPAV) in defeating several anti-abortion bills this session, including a proposed 20-week abortion ban. Nevertheless, anti-abortion bills such as HB 212, which would reintroduce biased counseling, passed out of the Virginia House of Delegates and is being considered by the Senate. If passed, this legislation would infringe on the relationships between patients and their providers and spread anti-abortion misinformation. PPADMV will continue to work hard to fight back!
Special shout out to our friends at Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC for their work this session – Director of Clinical Services Amanda Pitelli gave powerful testimony against anti-choice legislation, stating that abortion is a “personal decision that should only be made by the individual and their healthcare provider – free from political interference.”
Washington, DC
We’re excited to announce that earlier this year, DC Council passed the Expanding Student Access to Period Products Act of 2021, a bill championed by DC Councilmember Brooke Pinto. In DC, 10 percent of residents struggle to access period products, with young BIPOC people and families with low-incomes being at the forefront of this struggle. This bill comes as a huge win as it requires free menstruation products to be provided to students at all District schools. We are proud of the work you all did with PPADMV to garner support for this bill – thank you for your advocacy and we look forward to continuing to work with you to expand access to free period products even further!
Get Involved
Live in Maryland? Tell your legislators to pass the Abortion Access Package of bills with this action form!
Don’t live in Maryland but know someone one who does? Share this action form to help ensure all Marylanders who support access to reproductive health are heard by contacting their legislators today!
New to PPADMV? Join the fight and get involved! Click here to learn more.
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