In a hearing that lasted around five hours, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed the Reproductive Privacy Act (RPA) by a vote of 44-30. The vote included 60 percent of all the Democrats in the chamber, 21 of the 26 women in the House, and had the support one Republican, John Lyle Jr (Republican, District 46, Lincoln).
As the bill was passed, cheers erupted from the House gallery where women who supported reproductive rights including abortion, had been waiting all day, some arriving at 9am to secure a seat.
