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Virginia House Subcommittee Fails To Advance Constitutional Amendment For Reproductive Freedom

For Immediate Release: Feb. 17, 2023


Delegates reject SJ255 and deny Virginians the opportunity to vote on enshrining protections for reproductive health care, including abortion, in the Commonwealth’s Constitution

Richmond, VA – Today, the Virginia House Courts of Justice Subcommittee #1 voted to pass by indefinitely legislation that would have begun the process to enshrine reproductive freedom in the state constitution through a proposed amendment. SJ255 was defeated on a vote of 5 to 3. 

Jamie Lockhart, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia: 

“We applaud Senator Jennifer McClellan, Senator Jennifer Boysko, and Delegate Charniele Herring, who have once again taken bold steps to defend our reproductive rights. Today, the House of Delegates rejected this attempt and denied Virginians the opportunity to make their voices heard on the future of their fundamental freedoms. We know that Virginians want to ensure abortion rights are protected in our commonwealth, and they will not forget which out-of-touch lawmakers chose to thwart the will of the people to further their radical political agendas. Voting against protecting access to basic health care will continue to be a losing game for them.” 

The vast majority of Virginians want to keep abortion safe and legal. A recent poll from The Watson Center at Christopher Newport University found that 72% of Virginians want our abortion laws to stay the same or be less restrictive.  

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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia (PPAV) is a statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to preserve and broaden access to reproductive health care through legislation, public education, electoral activity and litigation in the Commonwealth of Virginia. PPAV works to ensure that individuals and families have the freedom, information, and ability to make their own informed reproductive choices.

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