Mother’s Day, Justice & EACA Progress (actions, updates)

Exciting!

Join us for the Senate Judiciary Committee VOTE (5/16)
This Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary will vote on the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act. We need to be there in force.

This Mother’s Day…

As we get ready to celebrate moms, mamas and caregivers in our lives, let’s be clear that the work we are doing to get bans on coverage for abortion off the books in our state IS part of supporting parents and families and building healthier communities!

• Two-thirds of people seeking abortions have already given birth to at least one child.
• People in states with abortion bans are nearly three times more likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth or soon after giving birth.
• Being denied abortion care was associated with a 78% increase in past-due debt and an 81% increase in adverse events such as bankruptcies and evictions, and people turned away from getting an abortion are more likely to stay in contact with a violent partner.

The short- and long-term financial well-being and health of parents and their families is negatively impacted when someone who needs an abortion is denied care because of a lack of insurance benefits! Well we aren’t just sitting back and waiting – we are speaking out and showing up and we are so thankful to every one of YOU who are in this with us! 

Thank You!

We are so grateful to every person who has sent an email, made calls, shown up to a recent action or shared their story to urge lawmakers to pass the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act this year.

We are especially grateful to the folks who came out to testify at this week’s hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee and lobbied on other days with us! We worked with our partners to mobilize folks build momentum and it is showing. Even on the night of the hearing, a majority of the 100+ folks who were there supported the bill.

We are doing all we can to make it clear that Rhode Islanders want this bill to pass!

To get this done, we continue to talk with and organize voters around the state, but we also are doing so much more!

• Our board member Dr. Ogechukwu Ezike had a fantastic piece in the Boston Globe.
• We recently supported a number of lobby days at the State House with health professionals and activists, and our education fund organized an improv dance performance near the Senate chamber.
• We have radio ads during drive time in Providence, and our mobile billboard truck was in Providence this week – and may be coming to a town near you.
• We had ads in local papers in the Barrington Times and Warren Times-Gazette with more to come!

We will not stop until this bill is signed – and we need YOU to keep up the fight with us! 

We turned out for the House hearing and the floor vote. THIS TUESDAY, the Senate Judiciary will vote & we need to BE THERE to show them that Rhode Islanders want this bill passed this year!

CLICK HERE to let us know you’ll be there. We will share updates. So get your green shirt ready and be there for this exciting moment.

Together, we WILL make sure every Rhode Islander has access to safe, affordable and equitable abortion care. Let’s do this!”

Can’t be there in person and /or also want to take a quick five minutes to make a difference? 

Copy and paste:
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] (think about including the Senate President: [email protected])

Subject:
YES on S32, Equality in Abortion Coverage Act

Message:
“My name is ____.  I am writing to urge you to vote YES the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (S32) when it comes before you on Tuesday.

Please, also vote NO on anti-abortion copycat bills (S347, 392, 397, 298) when they are scheduled for a vote. This is about health equity, closing gaps in care and ensuring we make our own decisions about our care and plan our families and future with dignity!”

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

To all those who care for, love and nurture young people in our state, we thank you. And we wish a very happy Mother’s Day to all who identify as mamas. We continue to fight for the future that our kids deserve and for a more just Rhode Island!

P.S. In addition to AMAZING momentum and progress for the EACA, we are excited to let you know that by a vote of 17-0, an FDA committee voted this week to recommend OTC birth control. This is amazing and a big deal to address barriers to care and protect our ability to plan our families and futures. Learn more.