May Month of Action

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 1, 2021

Planned Parenthood Action Fund of NJ Escalates Calls to Pass Reproductive Freedom Act 

Law would protect and expand access to reproductive health care including prenatal care, abortion, and birth control, has not had hearing in legislature in over 240 days

Throughout the month of May, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey expanded pressure on legislative leadership to invest in prenatal care and expand access to birth control and abortion in New Jersey by passing the Reproductive Freedom Act (S3030/A4848).

Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Coughlin have been feeling the pressure of a digital ad campaign making it easy for constituents to tell their elected leaders it’s time to pass the Reproductive Freedom Act. Constituents were also waving signs supporting the legislation  at the district offices of State Senate President Steve Sweeney in West Deptford and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin in Woodbridge last week, calling on them to pass the Reproductive Freedom Act.

Quote from Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, Vice President of Public Affairs for PPAFNJ:

“For years, our reproductive rights have been a punching bag for extreme politicians, and last month’s news from the Supreme Court was a monumental leap forward in their pursuit to strip away our right to access abortion. The threat is real, and abortion access in America could look radically different one year from now. It’s not enough for leaders in the legislature to say they support abortion access on the campaign trail. We expect them to use their positions of power to act — especially during this critical moment in the fight for our fundamental rights. Enough is enough with the half-baked excuses for not passing widely-supported legislation. We cannot allow the legislature to wait until our reproductive rights are taken away before they finally take this issue seriously. New Jerseyans deserve leaders who will boldly fight for policies that will improve their lives — not ones who place stigma and politics above the health care needs of their constituents.”

Background

The Reproductive Freedom Act was introduced in the New Jersey legislature in early October 2020 — over 2430 days ago — to protect and expand time-sensitive, essential reproductive health care, including abortion, prenatal care, and birth control. Passage of the Reproductive Freedom Act is supported by 72% of New Jersey voters and more than half of the majority caucus in the Assembly is signed on as co-sponsor. It has not even been heard in committee. 

The Reproductive Freedom Act has three main components: 

• Enshrining the right to reproductive health care in state statute

• Removing financial barriers to care

• Removing medically unnecessary regulations that only serve to block access to care. 

The Supreme Court recently announced that it will review Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade and nearly 50 years of precedent since that landmark decision. It is the first abortion rights case before the Supreme Court since the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

Digital Ads

Rallies at Senate President Sweeney's Offices

Rallies at Assembly Speaker Coughlin's Offices