Testimony from The Womxn Project, in support of S23, to be heard by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services
The Womxn Project is a statewide organization focused on leveraging the power of art, activism, advocacy and education to advance the principles of reproductive justice, which demands that we all have the right to determine when and how we build our relationships, families and futures and that we have the ability to live and raise our children with dignity.
Today marks the 13th anniversary to the ACA so let’s take the moment to be another voice celebrating this and look to the future for it’s safety to continue protecting so many millions of people.
We are proud to submit testimony in support of S23, which safeguards ACA patient protections. When The Womxn Project fought for the Reproductive Privacy Act (RPA), which codified the right to abortion in Rhode Island, we received a lot of push-back. Detractors said the RPA was unnecessary because Roe was the law of the land and would never be overturned.
Our detractors were wrong.
Similarily, the ACA is essential in protecting people’s access to healthcare, something The Womxn Project supports passionately as it fights for equitable access within Rhode Island. The ACA has defended itself against countless attacks in its 13 years, and should there come a time when it is unable to defend itself and becomes federally limited, repealed or replaced, patient protections must be in place in Rhode Island state law.
Because of the RPA, Rhode Islanders were not left vulnerable when the unthinkable happened and Roe was reversed. Our state legislature must make the same wise choice again. Neglecting to codify basic patient protections could leave people within our borders at risk of suffering from the coverage gaps and pre-existing condition exclusions that existed before the ACA was put in place if federal changes occur.
Contact:
Jocelyn Foye, [email protected], 401-400-0061