Testimony Guide: Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, Monday April 26

You must register to give verbal testimony by 4 pm, Sunday, April 25, using this link: VERBAL TESTIMONY

Process:

Sign up using the above link
You will receive a phone call at some point during the hearing (time cannot be predicted) and asked to stay on the line for a minute or two
You will then be put on live to give your short, 2 minute, testimony;
Some helpful tips:
- Please turn volume off your computer or television so there is no feedback
- Also, the video broadcast is delayed so you will be speaking but on the live feed it will look like someone before you is still speaking; Best option is to turn it all off when you get the phone call

Written testimony must be submitted by 2 pm, Monday, April 26, using this email address: [email protected]

Process:

Please be sure to include your name, contact information, bill number(s) you are writing about, and your position on the bills.
Then write a few sentences on why you support or oppose the legislation — using a personal story or real-life example can be a very powerful way to make your point (you can always refer to some of our talking points below for help!)

Senate Bill No. 267 - EQUALITY IN ABORTION COVERAGE - Provides for abortion coverage in the Medicaid program and repeal the abortion coverage exclusion for state employee insurance plans.

Senate Bill No. 645 - Requires health care facilities that perform abortions to meet the license requirements of similar health care facilities and allows the department of health to conduct unannounced inspections.
Senate Bill No. 664 - Enacts the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act and provides for the duties and obligations of medical personnel in certain circumstances.
Senate Bill No. 669 - Creates the Rhode Island Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, prohibiting the performance or induction of an abortion of an unborn child capable of feeling pain, unless necessary to prevent serious health risk to the unborn child's mother.

Need help? Use our Fact Sheet for more information on the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act or use some of these talking points:

I value autonomy, health, equity, and access. That’s why we need to pass the Equality in Abortion Act of 2020.
No one should be denied coverage for abortion because of who they are, where they work or how much money they have.
Those who are struggling to make ends meet already face barriers to accessing care — this is just another attempt to deny people with low incomes their sexual and reproductive rights.
Having a legal right doesn’t mean much when you don’t have access. Although abortion is legal, for too many, it’s still out of reach.
This law promotes discrimination. When we put politics over patients, it is people of color and those with the fewest resources who pay the highest price.
People should be trusted to make their own decisions about their lives and their health care. Everyone deserves access to the care they need.
Abortion should be covered by Medicaid just as childbirth, pre-natal care, and many other health care and family planning services are covered. By providing coverage for pregnancy but not abortion, insurance companies and a few politicians are trying to influence a private medical decision.