One Year Since Dobbs: Maine Moves Forward
 

(Portland, MAINE) –  June 24 will mark one year since the U.S. Supreme Court revoked federal protections for abortion. In that year, 20 states have enacted bans or near total bans on abortion and 1 in 3 women have lost the right to an abortion in their home state. Political actors opposed to abortion have attacked safe, effective medication abortion in the courts and made their true motives clear: ban all abortion in all circumstances including here in Maine. 

But Planned Parenthood of Northern New England has remained focused on offering comprehensive care to our patients. PPNNE expanded access to abortion including through telehealth and the mail. The healthcare provider managed a spike in calls for help from patients across the country seeking information and access to abortion and birth control. PPNNE saw patients from across the country, including dozens of patients from states with abortion bans like Texas, Florida and Louisiana.

In Augusta, lawmakers continue to work to protect and expand access to abortion while defending against attacks. This month, the Maine House and Senate passed three bills, LD 616, 1343, 935 and 263 that will help ensure Mainers can access care no matter where they live. Last night, the House passed LD 1619, which places trust in patients and medical providers to make private medical decisions without political interference. Polling shows a majority of Maine voters support expanding access to abortion care, and specifically the policy changes proposed in LD 1619.

Legislators also defeated several bills introduced by Republican lawmakers aimed at restricting access and erecting barriers to care – including overturning a law passed in 2019 that requires abortion care be covered by insurance. 

More than 10,000 Mainers came out in support of reproductive rights the day Roe fell, and in  the months following, at least 400 volunteers knocked on 15,000 doors. Thousands of new supporters answered the call to stand up for basic rights, leading to a record breaking mid-year election outcome both in Maine and across the country with the election of reproductive rights champions at state and national levels in November. Since Dobbs, voters have defeated every single ballot measure aimed at restricting access to reproductive care and at the same time passed all protective measures including constitutional amendments enshrining reproductive freedoms in neighboring states like Vermont. 

Statement from Nicole Clegg, Interim CEO, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England: 

“In Maine, we are fortunate to have state-level protections in place, protections that have ensured Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and other reproductive healthcare providers here can continue to offer essential care to our patients. And, we know we have more work to do.

It’s imperative that Maine lawmakers finish this session’s business by passing LD 1619, which places trust in medical providers and their patients to make complex, deeply personal and private medical decisions without political interference. 

The harrowing accounts of pregnant people across the country in the now 20 states that have enacted bans or near total bans on abortion are heartbreaking and infuriating. Yet here in Maine I remain hopeful and resolved. Mainers are resilient and unwavering in their support for reproductive rights and freedoms. 

We have said from the beginning that we won’t go back. Today, Maine moves forward with laws to protect our patients and providers. Tomorrow, we look to permanent protections in our state constitution.” 

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Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in Maine. PPNNE has four health centers in Maine and sees more than 12,000 patients a year.