‘LEADING THE FIGHT’
AG James taking action to expand abortion access
In light of a leaked memo last week that shows the Supreme Court of the United States plans on effectively repealing the nearly half-century-old Roe v. Wade decision which guarantees reproductive rights for a woman, New York Attorney General Letitia James held a press conference to take action to expand abortion access.
James was joined by State Senator Cordell Cleare, and Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas Monday to announce new legislation that would establish a state program that would provide financial resources to abortion providers in New York.
While New York codified the 1973 Supreme Court decision into law in 2019, the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program would provide funding for abortion providers and nonprofit organizations to help increase access to care, funding for uncompensated and uninsured abortion care, and providing resources to support the needs of individuals accessing abortion care. Should the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the fundamental federal right to abortion will be eliminated, curtailing the ability of people across the United States to access safe and legal abortions. The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program would support access to abortion for low-income New Yorkers and would also provide financial support for the influx of people coming to New York from other states that ban abortion.
As states have passed laws restricting access to abortion, the number of people traveling to New York for care has already grown. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019, nine percent or 7,000 of the abortion procedures performed in New York were for people from out of state. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, that number is likely to increase to more than 32,000 procedures a year from individuals traveling from only Ohio and Pennsylvania to New York, according to the Guttmacher Institute. There are currently 22 states that have laws or constitutional amendments that already exist that would allow them to ban abortion if Roe is overturned or weakened. There are an additional four states that are likely to ban abortion in the absence of federal protections. These 26 states are home to more than 40 million women of reproductive age.
“We know what happens when women are unable to control their own bodies and make their own choices and we will not go back to those dark times,” James said.
“New York must lead the fight to keep abortion safe and accessible for all who seek it and this legislation
spearheaded by State Senator Cleare and Assemblymember González-Rojas will ensure that low-income New Yorkers and people from states that ban abortion have access to the care they need and deserve. No matter what happens in the weeks to come, New York will always fight to protect our right to make decisions about our own bodies and expand access to this critical and lifesaving care,” James explained.
The legislation announced Monday and originally called for by James last year, seeks a dedicated Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program within the New York State Department of Health (DOH) that would provide funding to abortion providers and non-profit organizations to grow the capacity of providers and meet present and future care needs.
The program would provide funding for uncompensated abortion care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay for care or their insurance status. Finally, the program seeks to address the abortion care needs of individuals from outside of New York by awarding grant funds to non-profit organizations that provide support to individuals that travel to New York. To protect the privacy of the individuals seeking care, the legislation prohibits the state from tracking the personal information of patients through the providers that receive funds from the program.
“Health care is a fundamental human right and abortion is an essential aspect of women’s health care,” Cleare remarked.
“I am proud to sponsor new legislation — The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program — that will ensure that in New York we proactively protect, support, and fund all aspects of women’s health care including comprehensive abortion services. We will not be subject to the arbitrary whims of a politicized Supreme Court nor can we fund health care services via private fundraising — our women deserve better, and justice and equity demand it!” Cleare exclaimed.
“One of our greatest fears in generations is coming true: The Supreme Court will overrule Roe v. Wade,” Assemblymember González-Rojas said.
“Millions who live in states hostile to abortion access will look to other states for that care. New York must be a leader at this moment and prepare for the impending need. That is why I’m proud to have introduced legislation to create the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Fund, which will help address this need by providing funding to providers and addressing the practical needs of patients. I am honored to stand with our Attorney General Letitia James in calling on all of my elected colleagues to support it, for it to pass, and be signed into law. Most importantly, I’m asking that we invest the necessary resources to support our sisters and siblings across this nation. Our communities need real action by our state and this fund will ensure that New York is a safe access state when the Supreme Court has failed us,” GonzálezRojas noted.
“The Supreme Court’s willingness to overturn Roe v. Wade is a call to action — and New York must answer that call,” Andrea Miller, president of the National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) remarked.
“The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Fund would be a critically needed, proactive step to create real access to abortion care, at a time when we need it the most. With half the states in the country poised to ban abortion, New York providers will face tremendous obstacles in providing the care that people need — both New Yorkers and all those who will travel to our state for care. With this fund, New York will ensure that medical and other costs are not a barrier to accessing care and that our providers have the capacity, resources, and infrastructure to treat everyone in need of care. I urge New York legislators to pass this bill immediately, and I hope other states across the nation take notice and follow suit,” Miller noted
“The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) District II is proud to stand with our elected officials to uplift proactive policies to ensure abortion access in the future,” Dr. Jessica Atrio, legislative chair, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District II said.
“Abortion is essential health care that improves the lives, health, and wellbeing of the patients we serve. We strongly support the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program legislation which anticipates the many challenges that those seeking abortion services will face and will help providers continue to meet their needs and deliver patient-centered care here in New York,” Atrio explained.
James concluded by stating that those who claim they are looking out for the rights and well-being of children should put their money where their mouth is once those children are born.
“If individuals are truly concerned about children, that what they should do is expand the childcare tax credit, what they should do is expand universal school lunch, what they should do is provide more money for education and childcare, daycare, prenatal care, and the list goes on and on if you truly care about children,” James added.