The Federal Government’s Next Coronavirus Response Bill Must Protect Reproductive Health Care

Reproductive health is essential health care. That includes abortion, which is both essential and time-sensitive. A global pandemic is not the time to play a political game with people’s lives. And yet, that’s exactly what’s happening — from the White House to state houses. 

For the next coronavirus response package to successfully respond to the pandemic, it cannot be used to introduce or further expand domestic or global abortion restrictions, such as the harmful Hyde amendment and the global gag rule.

Planned Parenthood remains committed to working with other public health providers, hospitals, and organizations to serve patients and the community in every way possible during these uncertain and unsettling times. 

To that end, there can be no provisions that limit provider participation or that target any essential provider — including Planned Parenthood.

Any successful relief package must ensure access to health care, including no-cost COVID-19 testing and treatment. That’s not just for the rich and famous. To heal our nation, we need this access for everyone — no matter where they live, how much money they have, or what their immigration status might be.

We can’t fight this pandemic without our frontline workers. It is imperative that all health care providers and frontline workers get the PPE and other resources they need to stay healthy and do their jobs.

Our country can’t control COVID-19 on its own. To make sure no person or community is left behind, the United States must support a comprehensive and coordinated global pandemic response that upholds the health and rights of the most marginalized communities around the world.

The next coronavirus response package will not be complete unless it:

• Invests in global health programs, including international reproductive health programs;

• Targets resources to communities in economically developing countries that already face the greatest barriers to care, including women, young people, LGBTQ people, and refugees; and

• Supports WHO and UN agencies, including UNFPA. The Trump-Pence administration has blocked U.S. funding for UNFPA since 2017, but UNFPA is doing great work to respond to COVID-19 — strengthening the global supply chain, engaging communities in risk reduction, promoting maternal health, and protecting women from gender-based violence that persists amid this global crisis.

In the United States, people overwhelmingly support access to safe, legal abortion — but elected officials are doubling down on attacking access. That makes voting absolutely critical to protecting reproductive health care. Meanwhile, politicians who want as few people to vote as possible are forcing too many Americans to choose between their own safety and exercising their right to vote. 

To allow Americans to vote safely and securely, we must have robust voting reform policies and funding. The next COVID response package should include at least an additional $3.6 billion in federal funds for voting reforms, including: 

• An extended early in-person voting period, allowing for voters to come in over a spread-out period rather than in a cluster on Election Day; 

• Absentee voting-by-mail that doesn’t require an excuse, and includes options through which to request and return ballots;

• Expanded voter registration options, including online voter registration and same-day voter registration;

• Prohibition of polling place adjustments that disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, such as people of color, Native Americans, limited-English proficient citizens, people with disabilities, and students; and

• Voter education, informing the public of new practices and immediately quashing disinformation as it arises.