We Oppose 20-Week Abortion Bans

SB 744/HB 351 is a cruel attempt to ban abortion in the state of Florida past 20 weeks.  Every pregnancy is different. There are many reasons a person may need to access abortion later in pregnancy, but this proposed ban fails to account for real world situations.

It is crucial for pregnant people to have the opportunity to consider all their options and for doctors to be able to treat their patients with the best medical options available. These medical decisions should be made by pregnant people and their families, in consultation with their doctor — not held up by political agendas.   

Attempts to ban abortion are always wrong, but an attempt to do so in the middle of a pandemic is appalling. Legislators should be focusing on urgent issues like coronavirus vaccine distribution, not on blocking access to care. We need to pass laws that respect, support, and empower people – ensuring that everyone has access to respectful, quality, and affordable reproductive healthcare, including abortion.

We don’t need ideological grandstanding, we don’t need bans on health care, and we don’t need to add further harm to people who are already facing tragedy. Regardless of how they feel about abortion, elected officials should not impose their personal beliefs on others. Now is the time for Florida’s political leaders to help struggling Floridians during the COVID-19 pandemic – not pass restrictions on reproductive health care.