Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia Eager to Advance Reproductive Freedom During the 2024 Legislative Session
For Immediate Release: Jan. 10, 2024
Richmond, Va — Today, as the 2024 Virginia General Assembly kicks off its 60-day session with consideration of a biennial budget, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia calls upon the pro-reproductive rights majorities to protect abortion rights and reproductive freedom across the Commonwealth.
Statement from Jamie Lockhart, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia:
"Two months ago, Virginians made their voices heard loud and clear, electing pro-reproductive rights majorities in both the State Senate and House of Delegates. The message from voters was unmistakable: they want to protect abortion rights.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia’s foremost commitment remains ensuring access to essential, time-sensitive sexual and reproductive health care. We look forward to supporting legislation that expands access to contraception and protects abortion providers and patients accessing reproductive health care in Virginia. We will also vigorously oppose any bills that insert politicians into the private medical decisions that should rightfully belong to each patient and their health care provider.
It's time to put an end to the recurring debate over our rights in each legislative session. We look forward to working with legislators to begin the long process of enshrining reproductive freedom in our commonwealth’s constitution, culminating in a vote by Virginians in November 2026. Amending our constitution to protect reproductive freedom is particularly crucial now, given the absence of state or federal protections for abortion. This amendment will make sure that our commonwealth and local governments cannot treat abortion and other reproductive health care differently from other types of medical care, and will protect women and people who can become pregnant from unnecessary restrictions on their health care.”
For more information on PPAV’s legislative priorities or how to join PPAV’s email list, visit ppav.org or follow us on Instagram @PPAVA, Facebook and Twitter @PPAVirginia.
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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia (PPAV) is a statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to preserve and broaden access to reproductive health care through legislation, public education, electoral activity and litigation in the Commonwealth of Virginia. PPAV works to ensure that individuals and families have the freedom, information, and ability to make their own informed reproductive decisions.