Thank you, Rep. DeLauro

After years of relentless attacks on reproductive freedom, we had a breath of fresh air with Congress’ historic vote to pass a federal spending bill that expands sexual and reproductive rights, thanks to the leadership of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro as the House appropriations chair.

This progress comes after decades of advocacy and organizing from people of color, organizations like All* Above All, and other reproductive justice leaders urging lawmakers to end these harmful abortion restrictions. This spending package includes many sexual and reproductive health priorities — increasing Title X funding, funding for teen pregnancy prevention, removal of discriminatory and racist abortion bans including the Weldon Amendment, the D.C. Medicaid abortion ban and the Hyde amendment.

The removal of these abortion bans is long overdue. Let’s be clear: these bans create roadblocks to health care that primarily impact people of color and people with lower incomes — people who are already marginalized by and face insurmountable barriers in the health care system.

Still, the work towards reproductive freedom is far from over. While we celebrate the progress in dismantling some abortion restrictions, we have also seen reproductive rights regress drastically. 2021 is tied with 1973 for the second most enacted abortion restrictions ever. These restrictions force people to travel long distances to reach an abortion provider, navigate long waiting periods, take time off work (often unpaid), and pay out of pocket the cost of the procedure, all while we are still amidst the COVID-19 health crisis. Now is the time to be expanding access to health care, not creating more barriers.

Rep. DeLauro has championed sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion, no matter one’s income, insurance status, ZIP code and any other barrier put in a person’s way to access basic reproductive rights. As the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, I am honored and thankful to have her in our corner for our patients, the people of Connecticut and the people of this country.

Amanda N. Skinner President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England