From the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus…yet MORE reason to vote Republicans out of office this November!
Senate Democrats’ Bills to Protect Reproductive Healthcare Killed on Party-Line Vote
Richmond—Today, in the Senate Education and Health Committee Democratic Caucus Chair Senator Mamie Locke (D-Hampton) and Senator Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond) introduced Senate Bills 1054 and 1451 to remove the requirements that women undergo a transabdominal ultrasound prior to abortion and that a second trimester abortion must be preformed in a hospital. During the same Committee, Senator Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax) introduced Senate Bill1637 which would establish the right to reproductive choice in the Virginia Human Rights Act. All the measures were killed on a party-line vote.
“Women do not need state government to tell them what to do,” said Democratic Caucus Chair Mamie Locke (D-Hampton). “Abortion services should be subject to the same standards as other medical procedures and not subject to additional barriers. The current politically motivated barriers are only in place to allow the state to show disdain for a women’s individual choice.”
“Only one medical procedure is in the criminal code. Hospitals and other medical providers have a whole host of regulations to deal with health and safety, but only abortion is subject to criminal violations,” said Senator Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond). “It’s time we stop criminalizing a woman’s choice and expand access to care for all Virginians.”
“With the Supreme Court’s current make up and today’s political climate, access to reproductive healthcare is in jeopardy,” said Senator Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax). “We must codify our national rights into Virginia state law to ensure that the reproductive rights of Virginians are dependable, secure, and no longer in danger from changing political tides.”
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