Reproductive Health Care Act (RHCA)
Protecting the Right to Abortion in Rhode Island
Sponsors: Senator Gayle Goldin and Representative Edith Ajello
This goal of this bill is to protect the right to seek an abortion in Rhode Island. We believe every person should have the ability to make their own decision about how to build their family, manage their health and plan their pregnancies. This ensures that we become parents when we are ready and that we control our own futures. We have a chance to pass this important legislation this year.
WHAT DOES THE BILL DO?
The RHCA prohibits the state from restricting people from seeking an abortion until the pregnancy reaches viability.* The intent of this bill is to guarantee that no matter what happens at the federal level people in Rhode Island will have the legal right to seek an abortion.
The RHCA gets rid of old laws restricting abortion that have been found unconstitutional.Some people don’t want abortion to be available at all regardless of circumstances, so over the years laws have been passed in order to limit access to care. Many of these policies have been found unconstitutional or cannot be enforced based on legal precedent. This bill strikes these laws from the books.
WHY DO WE NEED THIS BILL NOW?
This bill will draw the line and make it abundantly clear that we protect every person’s ability to make their own decisions and to follow their own beliefs when it comes to pregnancy, parenting and abortion.
WHAT DO VOTERS HAVE TO STAY?
More than 70% of voters and 61% of Catholics in our state have said that they want to see this bill enacted and to make it clear that the right to abortion is protected in our state. It has strong support and is frankly the right thing to do.
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HOUSE Sponsors (38):
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(emails & phone numbers)
- Rep. Christopher R. Blazejewski (D-Dist. 2, Providence)
- Rep. Julie A. Casimiro (D-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter)
- Rep. Robert E. Craven (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown)
- Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown)
- Rep. Justine Caldwell (D-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich)
- Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston)
- Rep. Jason Knight (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren)
- Rep. Marvin L. Abney (D-Dist.73, Newport, Middletown)
- Rep. Charlene Lima (D-Dist. 14, Cranston, Providence)
- Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket)
- Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown)
- Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston)
- Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett)
- Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport)
- Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell (D-Dist. 5, Providence)
- Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton)
- Rep. Rebecca Kislak (D-Dist. 4, Providence)
- Rep. Susan R. Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth)
- Rep. Gregg Amore (D-Dist. 65, East Providence)
- Rep. Moira J. Walsh (D-Dist. 3, Providence)
- Rep. Evan Shanley (D-Dist. 24, Warwick)
- Rep. Katherine Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence)
- Rep. Jean Philippe Barros (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket)
- Rep. John W. Lyle Jr. (R-Dist. 46, Lincoln, Pawtucket)
- Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown)
- Rep. Joseph S. Almeida (D-Dist. 12, Providence)
- Rep. Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9, Providence)
- Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee (D-Dist. 33, South Kingstown, Narragansett)
- Rep. Liana Cassar (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence)
- Rep. Mary Duffy Messier (D-Dist. 62, Pawtucket)
- Rep. John Lombardi (D-Dist. 8, Providence)
- Rep. David Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston)
- Rep. Mario Mendez (D-Dist. 13, Johnston, Providence)
- Rep. Carlos E. Tobon (D-Dist. 58, Pawtucket)
- Rep. Shelby Maldonado (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls)
- Rep. Daniel P. McKiernan (D-Dist. 7, Providence)
- Rep. Robert B. Jacquard (D-Dist. 17, Cranston)
- Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham)
- Sen. Erin Lynch Prata (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston)
- Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence)
- Sen. Cynthia A. Coyne (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence)
- Sen. James A. Seveney (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol, Tiverton)
- Sen. Adam J. Satchell (D-Dist. 9, West Warwick)
- Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown)
- Sen. Ryan W. Pearson (D-Dist. 19, Cumberland, Lincoln)
- Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence)
- Sen. Ana B. Quezada (D-Dist. 2, Providence)
- Sen. Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket)
- Sen. Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence)
- Sen. Samuel W. Bell (D-Dist. 5, Providence)
- Sen. Melissa A. Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield)
- Sen. Bridget Valverde (D-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, East Greenwich, Narragansett)
- Sen. William J. Conley Jr. (D-Dist. 18, East Providence, Pawtucket).
SENATE Sponsors (17):
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(emails & phone numbers)
- Sen. Gayle L. Goldin (D-District 3, Providence)
- Sen. Ana B. Quezada (D-District 2, Providence)
- Sen. Adam J. Satchell (D-District 9, West Warwick)
- Sen. James A. Seveney (D-District 9, West Warwick)
- Sen. Dawn Euer (D-District 13, Newport, Jamestown)
- Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-District 15, Pawtucket, North Providence)
- Sen. Ryan W. Pearson (D-District 19, Cumberland, Lincoln)
- Sen. Joshua Miller (D-District 28, Cranston, Providence)
- Sen. Erin Lynch Prata (D-District 31, Warwick, Cranston)
- Sen. Cynthia Armour Coyne (D-District 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence)
- Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-District 37, New Shoreham, South Kingstown)
- Sen Sandra Cano (D-District 8, Pawtucket)
- Sen William Conley (D- District 18, East Providence, Pawtucket)
- Sen Bridget Valverde (D-District 35, East Greenwich, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Narragansett)
- Sen Valerie Lawson (D-District 14, East Providence)
- Sen Melissa Murray (D-District 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield)
- Sen Samuel Bell (D-District 5, Providence)
