The EACA removes bans on health coverage for abortion for state employees and the Medicaid program.
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3 THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW TO HELP PASS THIS IMPORTANT BILL:
1) Sign up to do virtual testimony. Fill out this form: http://bit.ly/
2) Make ONE call TODAY. Call Senate Judiciary Chair Cindy Coyne (401) 276-5583) and urge her to get this bill passed out of her committee.
Sample Message: “I am calling in support of S267. Many people in our state are struggling to get by. We should not make it worse by taking away affordable access to abortion care. Please do all you can to pass this bill this year and get rid of harmful bans on health coverage for abortion. We hope you will also oppose the anti-abortion attacks being heard in your committee.”
3) Send an email RIGHT NOW to committee members. Copy and paste these addresses into an email to Judiciary committee members: [email protected], sen-archambault@rilegislature.
Sample message: I am writing to urge you to vote YES on S267, the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act when it comes before you on Monday, April 27. Rhode Island voters pushed to protect the right to abortion. This bill make sure that state employees and low-income people can afford care by getting rid of discriminatory bans on health coverage for abortion. Please support this important legislation. I hope you will also vote NO on S645, S664 and S669, bills that push nasty rhetoric about abortion and try to limit access to care. We should eliminate barriers to health services, not make it harder to get.”
We all worked so hard to protect the right to abortion, but there is no right if people can’t afford to get an abortion because their health insurance won’t cover it. This is a matter of reproductive and racial justice. It is an issue of health equity.
DO NOT DELAY. If you can testify, awesome! If not, please at least make ONE phone call and SEND an email to the committee members TODAY!
P.S. We can’t help but think this short hearing notice — on a Friday afternoon for a Monday hearing — is designed to minimize turn out in support and opposition for these bills. Nevertheless, TWP will do what we do – rise up and speak out for what’s right.
P.P.S. There are three nasty, anti-abortion bills being heard that day, too. More info to follow.