From Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia:
To: Interested Parties
From: Rae Pickett, Communications Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia
Date: Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Subject: Anti-Abortion Republicans Amp Up Attacks on Reproductive Health and Rights Ahead of January 10th Virginia Beach Special Election and Start of Legislative Session
Already this year, anti-abortion extremists have voiced increasingly alarming intentions to ban abortion and restrict reproductive health care during the Virginia General Assembly Session, which begins January 11, 2023. From banning abortion, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and certain forms of contraception, to taking away access to contraception for people with low incomes, disproportionately impacting traditionally marginalized communities, these proposals would have a devastating impact for Virginians seeking reproductive health care. These intentions highlight the importance of the upcoming Special Election that will determine if we have an abortion rights majority in the State Senate.
We anticipate the introduction of a 15-week abortion ban in the next couple of weeks, signaled by a budget amendment introduced by Governor Youngkin. Let’s be clear: A ban is a ban, plain and simple. Banning abortion after 15 weeks denies a person the fundamental right to control their own body and health care decisions. The goal of this ban, as with all abortion bans, is to stop people from accessing essential health care and to take away people’s power over their own bodies, lives, and futures.
We’ve seen this playbook across the country, where politicians in states have passed legislation to make abortion illegal after 15 weeks and then continued to add on restrictions until abortion was completely banned. They will keep moving the goalpost until abortion is banned entirely.
Current Proposals To Ban Abortion and Restrict Critical Reproductive Health Care Under Consideration in Virginia
- Governor Youngkin’s budget includes $50k in corrections funds for legislation to establish an abortion ban.
- Delegate John McGuire’s HB1488 would prevent Planned Parenthood and all institutions that provide abortions for patients, from providing other critical reproductive health care and programs, like the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program and free birth control. Further, the bill would remove the ability for the state to provide funds for abortions for low-income Virginians in rare circumstances.
- This is a furtherance of an amendment proposed by Governor Glenn Youngkin to force low-income Virginians to carry pregnancies with severe fetal diagnoses.
- Senator Amanda Chase pledged a total ban on abortion, IVF and certain forms of contraception.
- Delegate Marie March filed similar legislation, HB1395.
- Republican House Majority Leader Terry Kilgore voices support for 12-week ban, reiterates misinformation about abortion.
Why The Election of Aaron Rouse in SD-07 Would Ensure Abortion Rights are Protected for the Future
Next Tuesday, January 10th, voters in Virginia Beach and Norfolk will decide who replaces Congresswoman Jenn Kiggans in the State Senate. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia-endorsed candidate Aaron Rouse faces anti-abortion Kevin Adams for the 7th District seat in the Virginia State Senate. Rouse is crucial in the fight to keep abortion legal in Virginia.
With our state senate almost evenly divided, every single elected official is critical to our health and rights. Aaron Rouse is a champion for sexual and reproductive health and we must elect him in order to secure abortion rights. When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, Rouse boldly proposed including language to protect abortion rights in Virginia Beach’s General Assembly legislative priorities. His opponent, Kevin Adams, is an extremist who wants to ban abortion. Adams also has ties to “crisis pregnancy centers” (CPCs), which are anti-abortion organizations known to lie and deceive patients and are considered “unethical” by the American Medical Association Journal of Ethics. With Governor Youngkin pursuing an abortion ban with the support of extreme legislators, we cannot afford to have Kevin Adams, who said he would support this ban, in the Senate.
Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC is rallying behind Aaron Rouse and will be deploying staff and supporters this weekend in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, going door-to-door, informing voters about this special election. An investment of nearly $100,000 has been made in support of Aaron Rouse and ensuring abortion rights remain protected in the state of Virginia. Included is a $25,000 digital advertising media buy. The ad campaign began today, Tuesday, January 3, 2023 and runs until Election Day, Tuesday, January 10, 2023.
Sign up for the Blue Virginia weekly newsletter
