While States Across US Restrict Reproductive Rights, Freedoms, Sen. Gillibrand Championed Failed Legislation To Protect Access To Birth Control

AS STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY RESTRICT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, GILLIBRAND CHAMPIONING LEGISLATION TO PROTECT ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL

Since The Supreme Court Overturned Roe V. Wade, Over 20 States Have Severely Restricted Abortion Access; Concerns Are Mounting That Birth Control Restrictions Could Be Next

Editor’s note: Senator Sanders has remarked on this same issue, and has spoken about the need to protect women’s health freedoms.  Senator Paul referenced a different bill which was also not passed that also affected contraception. Two days after these bills failed, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision protecting access to certain types of birth control. 

Staten Islander News has also reviewed the film Under G-d, which details the ways in which abortion restrictions are also an infringement on the religious freedoms of Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and others who believe that life begins at birth, rather than at conception.  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As states across the country pass restrictions on abortion, IVF, and other forms of reproductive care, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is championing legislation to protect women’s reproductive rights. She is calling for the passage of the Right to Contraception Act, a bill that would codify women’s right to obtain and use contraception and prohibit the federal government or state governments from restricting its sale. The Senate is expected to take a vote on this bill later today.

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“In the two years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, tens of millions of women have lost the right to make their own reproductive health decisions,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Over 20 states now prohibit or severely restrict abortion. Others have threatened access to IVF. And now, right-wing state legislators across the country are trying to chip away at women’s right to quickly and safely access IUDs, birth control pills, and other forms of contraception. It’s unacceptable. Today, I plan to join my Democratic colleagues to vote for the Right to Contraception Act to protect freedom of choice for every woman in the country.” 

While New York State has moved to expand access to contraception, other states have begun working to restrict certain forms of contraceptives. A recently introduced bill in Oklahoma, for instance, would restrict the use of IUDs and prevent contraceptive medications like Plan B from being sold over the counter. Last year, Iowa stopped paying for emergency contraception for victims of sexual assault. And last month, Donald Trump suggested that he would restrict access to birth control if elected.

Specifically, the Right to Contraception Act would:

• Guarantee the legal right to obtain and use contraception
• Guarantee that health care providers can provide contraceptives, and information, referrals, and services related to contraception
• Prohibit the federal government or any state from administering, implementing, or enforcing any law, rule, regulation, standard, or other provision that would prohibit or restrict the sale, provision, or use of contraception
• Allow the Department of Justice, providers, and individuals harmed by restrictions on contraception access made unlawful under the legislation to go to court to enforce these rights

The Right to Contraception Act is cosponsored by Senators Markey, Hirono, Duckworth, Schumer, Baldwin, Bennet, Blumenthal, Booker, Brown, Butler, Cantwell, Cardin, Carper, Casey, Coons, Cortez Masto, Durbin, Fetterman, Hassan, Heinrich, Hickenlooper, Kaine, Kelly, King, Klobuchar, Luján, Menendez, Merkley, Murphy, Murray, Ossoff, Padilla, Peters, Reed, Rosen, Sanders, Schatz, Shaheen, Sinema, Smith, Stabenow, Tester, Van Hollen, Warner, Warnock, Warren, Welch, Whitehouse, and Wyden.

Banner Image: Daily and emergency contraceptives.  Image Credit – Staten Islander News 

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand