With the successful passage of the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (EACA) last year, we are already witnessing the real life impact on patients' access to care. As we gear up for the 2024 legislative session we are excited to continue the work to protect and expand access to essential reproductive health care.
We are hopeful for another victorious year with a focus on:
Patient and Provider Protection
While anti-abortion politicians continue to pass increasingly restrictive and extreme abortion bans and gender-affirming health care bans across the country we will be working to protect providers delivering this essential health care and safeguard access for patients who are forced to travel to Rhode Island to get the care they need. Patients deserve a shield against enforcement from other states when they seek legal health care in our state. The State of Rhode Island must protect our health care providers and patients who receive care within our borders from the egregious overreach of politicians in states across the country.
No Co-Pay Birth Control
Building on the success from last session law putting protections of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in state law we will continue to advocate for improving our state law, guaranteeing contraception coverage with no cost-sharing. Despite the ACA being upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2021, it is essential to enact these protections in our state law because individual components of the Federal law remain at risk to erosion. The no cost birth control benefit of the ACA has given patients the ability to select the right method of birth control for their lives, without weighing their medical options against the cost of care.
Constitutional Convention Ballot Question
Under the Rhode Island Constitution, at least every ten years the voters must be asked whether they wish to hold a constitutional convention and that question will appear on the 2024 ballot. The last time this happened in RI in 1986 the convention ended up proposing two anti-abortion constitutional amendments, one of which was approved by the voters. A constitutional convention is a direct threat to our civil rights which is why voting no to a constitutional convention is necessary.
Cross Movement Solidarity
Beyond reproductive rights, we are eager to provide support for our allies working on cross movement issues, including:
- Voting Rights
- LGBTQ+ Rights
- Economic Justice
- Gun Violence Prevention
As we gear up to join together at the State House once again, last year's successes fuel our optimism and determination. Our state remains at the forefront of the fight for reproductive freedom and rights, and the upcoming session promises to be another pivotal moment in shaping a more equitable future for all Rhode Islanders.