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Video: VA Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, Del. Cia Price Discuss Their Work to Safeguard the Right to Contraception – and the Serious Threats to That Right by Republicans Like Glenn Youngkin

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lowkell
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8

See below for video of VA State Senator Ghazala Hashmi and Delegate Cia Price, talking about their work to protect the right to contraception in Virginia, as well as the threats to that right from  anti-reproductive-freedom Republicans; those who are true believers as well as those who “willingly, blindly follow the most extreme members of their party”; extreme anti-abortion/anti-contraception groups like the Susan B. Anthony List; etc.

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi: “This particular discussion today is such a timely event for us in Virginia. The General Assembly met just yesterday to consider all of Governor Youngkin’s amendments to the bills that we had sent to his desk following the end of our session, and I’m proud that my colleagues refused to even entertain the governor’s efforts to gut our Right to Contraception Act. As we know, reproductive rights are under attack all across the country, and Virginia is actually the last safe haven in the South for abortion rights ad we are also on the front lines now to protect the right to contraception for our Southern region. And as chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, I’ve made it my priority to defeat any attempts to roll back our progress and also to advance proposals like this one that would protect access to reproductive health care, including all forms of contraception. So this year, my colleague, Delegate Cia Price and I introduced the Right to Contraception Bill. And unfortunately, Governor Youngkin just took the teeth out of the legislation; he said it went too far and he decided to return it to the General Assembly with a non nonbinding policy suggestion. And frankly, his substitute wasn’t even worth the paper that it’s written on. And that’s because our governor, like so many, is trying to have it both ways. He knows that Virginians want this bill to protect contraception access, but he’s also wants to leave space for extremists who insist on conflating abortion with contraception. And I’ll share that I have lots of Republican colleagues who have told me privately that they want to support the Right to Contraception bill; they understand its critical need, but they can’t because of potential political fallout from the fringes of their own party. But fortunately, the governor has another chance to get it right. So yesterday, we sent the bill back to his desk; he has another 30 days to act, and he really needs to respond to what Virginians want. We’re going to ask the governor again to listen to the voices of Virginians, including the 37,000 people whose signatures we delivered to his office, and make sure that he does the right thing for everybody in this state.”

Del. Cia Price: “Thank you Senator Hashmi, it’s been a pleasure working with you on this. And as the prolific poet and activist Maya Angelou said, when people show you who they are, believe them the first time. They told us they were coming after contraception and we have to believe them. From what we just heard about what Justice Thomas said, to the misinformation and disinformation campaign being spread on social media, to comments like that from US Senator Blackburn, the national threat is real. And then here in Virginia in regards to the bill that Senator Hashmi and I carried, there was a legislator from my area who voted against the bill, and when asked by press, he said it was because he thought it would protect drugs that caused abortion. Another one pressed by a reporter simply said, ask caucus, as if to imply that her no vote on the bill was ordered by leadership. And even if we go back to 2020, which was not that long ago, when Democrats bought a bill to the house to define birth control such that FDA-approved contraceptive methods shall not be considered abortion for the purposes of Virginia code, not one single Republican voted for the bill, even though it passed into law, and that’s why we need the Right to Contraception Act, because we as legislators need to understand the difference between abortion and contraception when voting on these laws that affect health care. And others will willingly, blindly follow the most extreme members of their party to vote against protecting this right, and this is such a disservice to people people like me. We know contraception is used for both family planning and to treat a variety of health conditions. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome, and without contraception I would not be able to leave the house and do my job. So the Right to Contraception Act is personal, and it is about protecting the personal right to bodily autonomy and having access to a critical form of health care. And we need an actual law to protect that right. So in this political climate, we also need leaders who are bold enough to say unequivocally yes, I want to protect your rights. So like Senator Hashmi said, we sent the bill back to the governor and he now has 30 days to decide if he’s going to continue to cosplay as a moderate while acquiescing to the most extreme flank of his party and veto the bill, or if he’s going to listen to all of the the 80% of voters who have said in polling and the 37,000 in our petitions that they support protecting the right to contraception, and sign it into law. The urgency is real, the time is now for governor Youngkin to do the right thing and sign this bill. We obviously are hearing that we cannot wait for another year knowing what is looming on the national front.”

“Youth voters are not a monolith, but I am just so proud to see how many are engaged and watching and witnessing the literal threats that are coming to contraception among other things. And so I am very proud that they’re clear they don’t want to go backwards. And so I think in their activism and just making sure that it’s not just on social media, that they come out and vote and engage. I think the candidates that are aligned with those of us that support the right to contraception will see, just like was mentioned, an increase in support, and those that don’t will be seen as a threat to their health, their money, their future. And I think that is well understood. I do think for a lot of the youth voters, that young voters that get their information from social media, it does underscore how much we have to make sure that that misinformation and disinformation campaign does not catch fire and does not go as viral as the truth, but I think that it will play an important and and pivotal role in in how young voters will decide to show up and who they will decide to support looming on the national front.”

“Our bills did advance, because we had Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, but once it got to the governor, I do think that he was trying to placate some of those folks….The Susan B. Anthony list is active in Virginia and I think all states, and they give millions of dollars to candidates that will stand against abortion and contraception. And so there’s the money piece that they’re giving to the candidates, but also in the actual committee room when they were trying to testify. There were the Family Foundation and the Catholic groups that would stand up, and they were part of the misinformation honestly in their testimony and likening the FDA-approved contraception devices to abortion and really trying to thwart what the actual bill was doing, by saying that it would come down on doctors – and that’s not what the bill was doing at all. So yes, they are active; yes, they are giving money; and yes, they are giving false testimony.”

VIDEO: As Right to Contraception Act Returns to Governor Youngkin’s Desk, Senator Hashmi and Delegate Price Join National Press Call with Legislators Who Introduced the Bill in Other States

Following Virginia’s reconvene session, reproductive freedom champions from across the nation discuss their work to protect the right to contraception

View a recording of the press call HERE.
RICHMOND, Va. — Following yesterday’s re-convene session in which Virginia Democrats refused to entertain Governor Youngkin’s substitute that would have gutted the Right to Contraception Act (RTCA), Senator Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield) and Delegate Marcia “Cia” Price (D-Newport News) joined state lawmakers from across the country for a national press call to share updates on each state’s efforts to pass the RTCA into law.

Across the country, state legislators are fighting to ensure the right to contraception is enshrined in their state codes in the event the U.S. Supreme Court overturns cases such as Griswold v. Connecticut. Legislators from Arizona, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa and Wisconsin were also represented on the call.

In Virginia, Governor Youngkin stated that the Right to Contraception Act as passed went  “too far” and sent down a complete rewrite of the bill, converting it from an enforceable law to a toothless Section 1 bill. The governor’s substitute also deleted explicit protections for IUDs and emergency contraception. Democrats in the General Assembly sent the bills as originally passed back to the governor, who now has 29 days left to decide whether to sign or veto SB237 and HB609.

“Governor Youngkin’s amendments to the bills … took the teeth out of the legislation. And he decided to return it to the General Assembly with a non-binding policy suggestion, which frankly wasn’t even worth the paper it’s written on,” Senator Hashmi said during the call. “I have lots of Republican colleagues who have told me privately that they want to support the Right to Contraception bill … but they can’t because of potential political fallout from the fringes of their own party.”

“We sent the bill back to the governor, and he now has 30 days to decide if he’s going to continue to cosplay as a moderate while acquiescing to the most extreme flank of his party and veto the bill or if he’s going to listen to the 80% of voters who have said in polling – and the 37,000 in our petitions – that they support protecting the right to contraception and sign it into law,” said Delegate Price during the call. “The urgency is real; the time is now for Governor Youngkin to do the right thing and sign this bill.”

In response to a reporter’s question on the role that groups opposing reproductive rights have played in undermining efforts to pass the legislation, Delegate Price called out the Susan B. Anthony List specifically. SBA Pro-Life has stated its opposition to the Virginia bill, citing a specific objection to emergency contraceptives. The group holds the position that “all emergency contraceptives can cause early abortions” and has called the provision of the Affordable Care Act requiring contraceptive coverage an “abortion drug mandate.”

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that a legal historian at the Georgia State University’s School of Law “added that [Youngkin’s substitute] … may also be a nod to people who see some forms of contraception as akin to abortion.”

SBA Pro-Life and its partner, Women Speak Out PAC, invested $1.4 million in Governor Youngkin’s 2021 election.

A recording of the national press call, which includes full remarks from Senator Hashmi and Delegate Price, can be viewed HERE.

Friday News: “Democrats take ‘unprecedented’ step to save GOP’s foreign aid bills”; “Tehran plays down reported Israeli attacks, signals no further retaliation”; “The Trump Trial Is Already Influencing Public Opinion”; “Who has the upper hand in a Virginia budget standoff?”

By
lowkell
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26

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, April 19.

Sen. Mark Warner: “The best time to [pass aid to Ukraine] would have been months ago. The second best time is right now.”

By
lowkell
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8

From Sen. Mark Warner’s office:

STATEMENT OF SENATE INTELLIGENCE CHAIR MARK R. WARNER

~ On the urgent need to pass supplemental aid funding for Ukraine ~

WASHINGTON – Today, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement:

“Over the past two years, the US has spent only a tiny fraction of its defense budget to help Ukraine inflict enormous losses on Russia’s military, hold the line in the fight for democracy over autocracy, and thwart Putin’s ambitions to take over Ukraine. Despite the clear security interests in continuing this support, and the commitments we’ve made to both the Ukrainian people and our NATO allies, House Republicans have spent months delaying the renewal of this critical aid. The best time to do this would have been months ago. The second best time is right now. I urge the House to act swiftly to get this done and end this painful and embarrassing delay. Failing to do so would be a mistake of historic proportions.

“At the same time, the House also has the opportunity to take important steps to shore up our national security in other avenues. For years, I’ve been raising the alarm about the powerful national security threat posed by TikTok, and I strongly support their divestiture from a company legally required to do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party. Amid deeply troubling and escalating violence across the Middle East, it’s also critical that we provide robust and desperately needed humanitarian aid in support of the millions of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and continue supporting Israel’s security. I look forward to the House’s swift action on all these priorities and to championing their passage in the Senate.”

On February 13, 2024, the Senate passed a national security supplemental package to aid Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and the Indo-Pacific with a bipartisan 70-29 margin.

Audio: Del. Marcus Simon Says “If it takes electing a Gorka [as Fairfax GOP Chair] to…wake people up to [the fact that THIS is who Fairfax Republicans are], then I’m a BUY on that!”

By
lowkell
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5

Gotta agree with Delegates Alfonso Lopez, Cia Price and Marcus Simon on what the Fairfax GOP’s election of Sebastian Gorka’s wife, Katie Gorka, as their new Chair means.  As for whether I’d be a “sell,” “buy” or “hold,” I can see the “sell” and “buy” arguments made by Delegates Lopez (“sell”), Price (“sell”) and Simon (“buy)”. See below for audio (from Pod Virginia) and a transcript of the delegates’ reasoning on this.

Michael Pope: “Katie Gorka as chairwoman of the Fairfax County Republican committee – the wife of Sebastian Gorka – is now the chairwoman of the Fairfax Republican party…buy, sell or hold.”

Del. Alfonso Lopez: “I’m a big SELL on that…This is going to be a fascinating election  season for the at the federal level this year. And the fact you have Ms. Gorka as the chair of the Fairfax County Republicans does not bode well for the tone of how we are going to be conducting this election up in Northern Virginia.”

Michael Pope: “Well you say it doesn’t bode well for the tone, but that might actually end up helping Democrats perhaps…”

Del. Cia Price: “I’m going to say SELL on anyone that does not believe that Biden was elected and that we are supposed to have free and fair elections and so that would be any Republican right now that you would mention. So just going to go on and say sell on all of that jazz.”

Del. Marcus Simon: “So I’m going to surprise you guys, I’m going to be a BUY on this. And I’m going to be careful about how I say this…I think that the Gorkas unfortunately are an accurate reflection of what the current Fairfax County Republican Party has become…When I got in politics working for Jim Scott in that is now a 70% Democratic district, Fairfax County went for Bob McDonnell in 2009 – it was a red county, it was purple. Most of the people that were Republicans under that Republican Party then have left the Republican Party since then. And so I don’t want to say that Republicans at large are what the Gorkas are, but what’s left of the Fairfax County Republican Party these days is people that…adhere to that line. And so having…them elect somebody like that I think is revealing, I think voters need to understand who it is that’s…electing the leadership of and participating in the leadership of the organized Fairfax County Republican Party. It is who they are, and if it takes electing a Gorka to sort of wake people up to that fact, then then I’m a BUY on that.”

WATCH: Kennedy Family Endorses Biden-Harris 2024

By
Blue Virginia
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5

From President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign:

WATCH: Kennedy Family Endorses Biden-Harris 2024

Today, the Kennedy family announced its endorsement of President Biden and Vice President Harris for reelection. Later today, members of the family will join President Biden for a campaign event in Philadelphia before participating in an organizing event to mobilize local supporters and volunteers around the stakes of this election.

This morning, Kerry Kennedy spoke to her family’s support for President Biden’s reelection bid, emphasizing his agenda for democracy, freedom, and decency, while emphasizing the threat Donald Trump poses to the United States:


Kerry Kennedy on ABC’s Good Morning America

KERRY KENNEDY: “Well, I think nobody competes with President Biden when it comes to carrying on the legacies of John Kennedy and Robert Kennedy and Ted Kennedy. He has spent his whole life working on behalf of working people, of gig workers. He marched with the UAW and helped to end that strike early. He is an extraordinary leader… He cares about all of us. And he was inspired to get into politics because of my father. So I think there is no competition with him. We need to assure that he is elected.”


Kerry Kennedy on MSNBC’s Morning Joe

KERRY KENNEDY: “We’re here in Philadelphia with my siblings and representing my first cousins, all of whom… are supporting Joe Biden for reelection. We’re doing that because we feel that the stakes are so high. You just showed that clip of Daddy in which he said, ‘I cannot stand aside.’ We cannot stand aside when we’re up against a man who says he wants to be a dictator on day one, who says he’s going to change the Constitution so he can go after his enemies, who has cozied up to dictators… We need to stop this man. We need to stop Trump and we need to elect Joe Biden, who has always stood with the middle class… and who cares about the middle class and working class in America.”

President Biden has long cited the Kennedy family and their work to fight for justice, human rights, and an economy that works for every American as key to his pursuit of public service. President Biden has a bust of Robert F. Kennedy in the Oval Office and describes R.F.K. as one of his political heroes, who inspired him early in his career to leave corporate law to become a public defender, and then go on to run for public office.

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Paid for by Biden for President

Thursday News: “Climate damages by 2050 will be 6 times the cost of limiting warming to 2°”; After 6 Months of Disastrous Delay, Will “MAGA Mike” Johnson Finally Do the Right Thing on Ukraine?; Virginia Budget Goes “back to the drawing board?”

By
lowkell
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25

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, April 18.

Virginia Republicans Fail Working Families By Sustaining Youngkin Veto of Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill

By
Blue Virginia
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2

From Freedom Virginia:

Republicans Fail Working Families By Sustaining Youngkin Veto of Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill

Legislation would have guaranteed workers up to eight weeks of paid time off to welcome a new baby or care for a family member with a serious illness

RICHMOND, VA — During today’s reconvene session, Democrats in the Senate attempted to override Governor Glenn Youngkin’s veto of legislation that would have created Virginia’s first paid family and medical leave program.

Not a single Republican joined them in the attempt, so the 21-19 Senate vote fell short of the two-thirds majority required to successfully override a veto.

Senate Bill 373, championed by Senator Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax) and Delegate Briana Sewell (D-Prince William), would have helped ensure Virginia workers would not have to choose between keeping their paycheck and caring for a family member with a serious illness or injury, their own medical needs, or welcoming a baby.

The bill would have created a state-administered insurance program allowing covered employees to receive up to eight weeks of paid time off for personal or family health needs. The popular policy is supported by 84% of registered voters in Virginia and addresses a critical gap affecting 78% of Virginia workers.

“A super-majority of Virginians want paid family and medical leave, so it’s disappointing we could not get a super-majority of legislators to override this veto,” said Freedom Virginia Executive Director Rhena Hicks.  “As a mom, I know exactly what this program would mean to hardworking families. We want peace of mind. We want the assurance that we won’t have to choose between keeping our paychecks and caring for a loved one in an emergency. Governor Youngkin cannot claim to care about parents and then tell us that we don’t deserve to keep our paychecks if disaster strikes our families. We applaud the Democratic legislators who tried to override this veto, and we look forward to coming back and fighting for this bill again next year.”
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Freedom Virginia is a nonpartisan 501(c)4 organization committed to building a Commonwealth where all Virginia families have the freedom to thrive. Freedom Virginia advances economic security policies through grassroots activism, voter engagement and legislative advocacy. Our efforts began in 2020 and since then we’ve pushed for a more economically secure Virginia by sharing real stories about Virginians’ lack of access to affordable healthcare, education, energy, and the need for policies that foster more safety for families. Visit our website at freedomva.org to learn more. 

VA General Assembly Leaders, Gov. Glenn Youngkin Joint Statement on Next Steps in Reaching a Budget Agreement

By
Blue Virginia
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5

From Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office:

General Assembly Leaders, Governor Glenn Youngkin Joint Statement on Next Steps in Reaching a Budget Agreement
RICHMOND, VA – Speaker of the House Don Scott, Senate Finance and Appropriations Chair Louise Lucas, House Appropriations Chair Luke Torian and Governor Glenn Youngkin released the following statement on budget discussions following the General Assembly’s Reconvened Session:

“Following a series of productive conversations, we have agreed to continue our work on the budget. We are all committed to creating a budget that meets the needs of Virginians on time. Over the next few weeks, we will work diligently to ensure it is sound! An updated budget will then be presented to the General Assembly on May 13th to be voted on in a special session on May 15th.”

Full text of the Governor’s proclamation for Special Session is available here.

Virginia General Assembly Rejects Governor Youngkin’s “Ethical” Exemption Amendment to the Contraceptive Equity Act 

By
Blue Virginia
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8

From REPRO Rising Virginia:

General Assembly Rejects Governor Youngkin’s “Ethical” Exemption Amendment to the Contraceptive Equity Act

The bill now goes back to Gov. Youngkin to either sign the bill as is or veto it

Richmond, Virginia– In a significant victory for advocates of reproductive health and freedom, the Virginia General Assembly rejected Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proposed religious and “ethical” exemption amendment to the Contraceptive Equity Act (SB238/HB819). The Contraceptive Equity Act aims to address cost barriers to contraceptive access and equity, and seeks to eliminate burdensome co-pays, cost-sharing, reimbursement requirements, and coverage delays. It also widens contraceptive options for multiple healthcare issues. Governor Youngkin’s amendment, which was criticized for its potentially detrimental impact on Virginians’ access to contraceptives, was met with staunch opposition from legislators and advocacy groups.

Governor Youngkin’s proposed amendment to the Contraceptive Equity Act sparked widespread concern among reproductive health advocates and Virginians seeking accessible and affordable contraceptive options. The amendment, as drafted, was deemed dangerously open-ended in its reference to federal law, establishing a vaguely defined loophole regarding what constitutes an “ethical” exemption. Advocates argued that this could lead to more restrictive policies on birth control and limitless ethical objections by employers and health plans, posing a threat to patients’ ability to access contraceptive coverage for any reason.

The fate of this legislation now lies once again in the hands of Governor Youngkin. He must either sign or veto the bills. Advocates urge Governor Youngkin to consider the needs and rights of Virginians and to pass the Contraceptive Equity Act in its original form.  This legislation represents a crucial step forward in ensuring equitable access to reproductive healthcare for all Virginians.  Tarina Keene, executive director of REPRO Rising Virginia, expressed her relief at the General Assembly’s decision, stating, “The rejection of Governor Youngkin’s proposed amendment is a significant victory for reproductive healthcare access in Virginia. The Governor’s amendment threatened to roll back hard-won progress in contraceptive equity and access, especially for marginalized people who already lack adequate access to healthcare. We commend the elected leaders of the General Assembly for standing up for Virginians’ reproductive rights and ensuring that more barriers to contraceptive access are not erected. We implore Governor Youngkin to put aside politics and do the same.”

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REPRO Rising Virginia works to ensure real, reliable, affordable, and timely access to abortion, contraception, and other reproductive health services for every person in Virginia. Through policy, elections, and our advocacy programs, we fight for every Virginian’s right and access to Reproductive Freedom.  

Planned Parenthood: Reproductive Health Care Votes to Watch for During Virginia’s Reconvened “Veto” Session Today

By
Blue Virginia
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14

From Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia:

To: Media and Interested Parties
From: Jamie Lockhart, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia
Date: April 17, 2024
Re: Reproductive Health Care Votes to Watch for During Reconvened “Veto” Session

The General Assembly reconvenes today, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 for the purpose of considering bills returned by the Governor with recommendations for amendment or bills that received a veto. While Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia will be watching throughout, we’re particularly focused on the outcome of the following votes that will impact access to sexual and reproductive health care in Virginia.

Governor’s Amendments

  • SB238 (Hashmi)/HB819 (King): We know that high out of pocket expenses can make certain forms of birth control prohibitively expensive, and this bill would have required health plans to cover contraception without cost-sharing, so that people had access to the forms of contraception they need in reality, instead of in name only. These bills passed the Senate and House with bipartisan support.

Governor’s action: Inserting this amendment: H. The provisions of this section shall not be interpreted or construed to apply to any nongovernmental plan sponsor that is exempt under federal or state law based on sincerely held religious or ethical beliefs.

Explanation:

Instead of signing the Contraceptive Equity Act, Governor Youngkin proposed an amendment that would add a vague, broad exception to the bill. If accepted, the Governor’s amendment would essentially allow any employer to claim a religious or ethical exemption, and deny their employees the coverage required by the bill. The employers would not be required to notify their employees of their decision to deny contraception coverage, nor would there be a pathway for employees who receive health insurance through their employer to receive coverage in some other way if their employer claimed a religious or moral exemption.

While it is true that the federal contraception coverage mandate established by the ACA has an exemption for religious employers, and that the federal exception was broadened by the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. to include closely-held corporations, the ACA provides a floor for contraceptive coverage requirements rather than a ceiling, meaning that states can further strengthen birth control coverage requirements with their own laws. Neither the ACA’s contraception coverage mandate exemptions, nor the ruling in Hobby Lobby apply to our state law, but the Governor’s amendment has a vague clause exempting “any nongovernmental plan sponsor that is exempt under federal law.” This exemption could give any employer in Virginia cover to ignore the requirements of SB238/HB819 without any notice or reporting, allowing them to simply refuse to cover contraception based on their ethical beliefs. That is not what Virginians want.

  • SB237 (Hashmi)/HB609 (Price): These bills protect the right to access contraception. Despite overwhelming public support, the constitutional right to contraception is being targeted by a range of candidates and policymakers who oppose reproductive health care, and indeed by the Supreme Court itself. In his concurring opinion of Dobbs, Justice Clarence Thomas voiced support for overturning the constitutional right to contraception – a right established in Griswold v. Connecticut in 1965. This legislation passed on a party-time (21Y-19N) vote in the Senate and received support from all Democrats and a few Republicans in the House of Delegates.  The legislation is on its way to Governor Youngkin where he will have 30 days to act once session concludes.

Governor’s action: Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute: Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1. § 1. That it shall be the public policy of the Commonwealth, independently of the requirements of the Constitution of the United States, that individuals possess the right to access contraception as set forth in Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965), and Eisenstadt v. Baird, 405 U.S. 438 (1972). 

Explanation: PPAV Statement on Governor’s Action (4/9/24)

“Governor Glenn Youngkin squandered the opportunity to fully defend the reproductive freedoms of Virginians, despite widespread support within the commonwealth for protecting the right to contraception. This decision to make them into section one bills disregards the crucial nature of contraception, not just for family planning, but as essential health care. The freedom to choose whether to use an IUD, implant, condoms, or pills is a deeply personal one. Yet, this fundamental right faces unprecedented threats. In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, we have seen efforts to undermine this basic health care right. Governor Youngkin’s failure to sign the Right to Contraception Act into law is a missed opportunity to affirm Virginia’s values and ensure that all individuals have the right to the contraception they need.

Virginians do not deserve to live with the uncertainty and chaos that comes with regular attacks to essential health care. Governor Youngkin’s vetoes underscore the need for a constitutional amendment for reproductive freedom that would ensure that politicians cannot take the Commonwealth backwards by restricting or banning essential reproductive health care in Virginia.”

Governor’s Vetoes

  •  SB15 (Favola)/HB1539 (Simon): This legislation aims to mitigate the risk of extradition against those assisting with and providing abortion care to patients from our commonwealth and elsewhere. It is critical that our legislators take every available opportunity to protect patients and providers from criminalization as a result of extreme anti-abortion laws in other states. SB15 is on its way to Governor Youngkin where he will have 30 days to act once session concludes. HB1539 is moving through the process and will be on the floor this week for final passage.
  • SB716 (Carroll Foy)/HB519 (King): These bills will help ensure that those who provide legal abortion care in Virginia can maintain licensure in Virginia. Individual lawmakers in hostile states have suggested they would be interested in cross-border enforcement. This bill will help to protect a health care provider’s license in Virginia if they face penalties from a hostile state for the provision of or assistance with abortion. Both of these bills have passed both bodies and are on their way to the Governor. They received bipartisan support in the House (54Y-45N) and passed on party-line votes in the Senate.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia Statement on Governor’s Vetoes (4/5/24)

“We are deeply disappointed by Governor Youngkin’s decision to veto this legislation aimed at protecting health care professionals who provide essential, time-sensitive abortion care. These bills represented a vital safeguard against the overreach of hostile states into our commonwealth, ensuring that those who provide abortion care can continue their work without fear of unwarranted penalties from out-of-state actors. These bills would have ensured that Virginia law governs what happens in Virginia. By vetoing these bills and failing to take an important stand against overzealous prosecution, the Governor has sent a discouraging message to Virginia health care professionals dedicated to reproductive rights and to the patients that rely on the availability of essential health services.

It’s critical that our policymakers leverage every opportunity to protect access to abortion, ensuring it remains accessible for Virginians and for our neighbors seeking refuge from restrictive laws in their own states. Governor Youngkin’s vetoes are particularly disheartening for Virginians who are already concerned about their access to reproductive health care, exacerbating fears and uncertainties during already challenging times.

Virginians do not deserve to live with the uncertainty and chaos that comes with regular attacks to essential health care. Governor Youngkin’s vetoes underscore the need for a constitutional amendment for reproductive freedom that would ensure that politicians cannot take the Commonwealth backwards by restricting or banning essential reproductive health care in Virginia.”

Budget Amendments

Item 4-5.04
Special Conditions and Restrictions on Expenditures

Goods and Services Language:

Page 648, line 3, strike “No” and insert “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no”.
Page 648, line 4, after “except” insert “as”.
Page 648, line 4, strike “or state statute”.

Explanation: Governor Youngkin’s budget amendment bans Medicaid-eligible Virginians from receiving funding to end pregnancies with severe fetal diagnoses, like anencephaly, in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull. This funding will affect cases described in § 32.1-92.2 where the fetus “will be born with a gross and totally incapacitating physical deformity or with a gross and totally incapacitating mental deficiency.” If it ends up in the final budget, Virginians with low incomes will be forced to carry pregnancies fraught with suffering.

This is discriminatory as it will disproportionately impact people of color who already face systemic barriers to health care and will be forced to carry pregnancies that could cause a stillbirth or result in the birth of a baby with health conditions that are incompatible with life. Because of the heightened mortality and morbidity risks faced by Black women and birthing people, it is particularly unconscionable to force the continuation of a pregnancy with a gross fetal diagnosis if the pregnant person does not want to carry to term.

In Fiscal Year 2023, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) approved funding for 30 abortions as a result of fetal anomalies. Families who find themselves in complex and tragic circumstances surrounding pregnancy, like a fatal fetal diagnosis, deserve our compassion and support – not shame and certainly not funding restrictions that put necessary abortion care out of reach.

See PPAV statement on the Governor’s budget from December 20, 2023

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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia (PPAV) is a statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to preserve and broaden access to reproductive health care through legislation, public education, electoral activity and litigation in the Commonwealth of Virginia. PPAV works to ensure that individuals and families have the freedom, information, and ability to make their own informed reproductive choices.

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