The bill will put Minnesotans’ right to reproductive freedom into state law for the first time
St. Paul, MN—To commemorate the 48th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, Minnesota legislators introduced a bill that will protect the reproductive rights of all Minnesotans. The Protect Reproductive Options Act (PRO Act) establishes Minnesotans’ fundamental right to make autonomous decisions about their own reproductive health care, including the right to contraception, the right to continue a pregnancy and give birth, and the right to have an abortion.
With a new conservative U.S. Supreme Court poised to take up any of 17 anti-abortion cases this year, it is imperative that the Minnesota Legislature act to protect the basic health care rights of Minnesotans.
“If there is one thing the last four years have shown — and particularly the last year — it’s that there are no guarantees. And in the many years since the day I learned that Roe was the law of the land, we’ve watched politicians continually attack women’s bodies,” said Sarah Stoesz, President of the Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota Action Fund. “Our health and wellbeing should not be subject to shifts in political winds or the opinion of a handful of judges. Our bodies are our own, and every Minnesotan deserves to decide if to be on birth control, if to get a vasectomy, and if or when to become a parent.”
The PRO Act protects Minnesotans’ reproductive freedoms, even if the U.S. Supreme Court weakens the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. States are seeing politicians emboldened by the new conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court and passing legislation designed to strip away access and rights to health care.
“Health care decisions should be made by a patient and their doctor, not politicians,” said Rep. Kelly Morrison, author of the House bill. “As an OB-GYN, every day I see the importance of individuals being empowered to plan their pregnancies and futures. As a doctor, my job is to care for my patients. As a legislator, it’s my job to honor the doctor and patient relationship by guaranteeing that Minnesotans can access the care and options they need.”
The PRO Act:
- Establishes the fundamental right of Minnesotans to make individual decisions about reproductive health care, including contraception, abortion, and pregnancy.
- Prevents politicians from interfering, restricting or denying a person’s fundamental right to make their own reproductive health care decisions. Prevents the state from discriminating against Minnesotans who exercise these fundamental rights on the basis of race, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, sex, national origin, age, immigration status, religious or disability status.
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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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