St. Paul, MN— As the 2021 legislative session adjourns, Minnesotans’ reproductive rights remain protected, thanks to health care champions who blocked abortion bans and other harmful legislation.
Sexual and reproductive champions fought for Minnesotans’ health care and reproductive freedom this Legislative session. Led by Governor Tim Walz. Lt Gov Peggy Flanagan, Speaker Melissa Hortman, and Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent, Planned Parenthood champions fought back abortion bans and pushed for reproductive freedom for all Minnesotans.
But anti-abortion State Senate lawmakers pushed to ban abortion and blocked progress. GOP Senate leaders obstructed police accountability, COVID-19 response efforts, and a fairer tax system; and we saw political overreach as they tried to ban abortion and impose unnecessary and burdensome restrictions on abortion providers.
“Thanks to our health care champions, Minnesotans in every corner of our state are keeping access to birth control and abortion,” said Sarah Stoesz, President of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota South Dakota Action Fund. “Without leaders like Governor Walz and Speaker Hortman to protect people, Minnesotans’ health care would be undercut by lawmakers who don’t make our well-being a priority. We see a coordinated effort across the country as anti-abortion politicians continue to do everything possible to eliminate sexual and reproductive health care. And when the Supreme Court takes up an abortion case this fall, we will be one step closer to losing federal protections for people needing an abortion, leaving this responsibility with the states. Minnesotans need elected officials who protect and expand our reproductive freedom, not diminish our rights.”
With Roe v. Wade at risk from the U.S. Supreme Court, Minnesota needs to protect our reproductive freedom at the state level and pass the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act. This PRO Act establishes Minnesotans’ fundamental right to make autonomous decisions about their reproductive health care, including the right to contraception, the right to continue a pregnancy and give birth, and the right to have an abortion. While the PRO Act did not pass this session, advocates will keep fighting until reproductive rights are protected in Minnesota.
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Founded in 1992, the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization. As the advocacy and electoral arm of PPMNS, we mobilize supporters of all parties to defend and increase access to family planning services and fact based, medically accurate sexuality education. We work to inspire and engage citizens to take up the cause of reproductive health and rights through education, electoral activity, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy.
Visit us at www.plannedparenthoodadvocate.org
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