A right is not real if people can’t access or afford that right. Right now, state employees and people who use Medicaid are told that their insurance plan won’t cover abortion. That means we still have work to do!
Everyone deserves to have the health care they need at a cost they can afford – and that includes being able to obtain an abortion. We are honored to work with Senator Bridget Valverde and Representative Liana Cassar to advance the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act.
The Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (“EACA”) will eliminate:
- The ban that withholds health insurance coverage for abortion in the state Medicaid program and associated plans, and
- The denial of coverage for abortion in the state employees’ health insurance.
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Bill language + more:
- The RI Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (House) Bill, 2021
- The RI Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (Senate) Bill, 2021
- EACA version of the bill and signers, 2020
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Details on the Rhode Island Bill
in order of how they signed onto the bill….
| House Sponsors (26 co-sponsors) | Senate Sponsors (21 co-sponsors) |
Rep. Cassar (D. 66) |
Sen. Valverde (D. 35) |
Rep. Ajello (D. 1) |
Sen. Cano (D. 8) |
Rep. Craven (D. 32) |
Sen. Goldin (D. 3) |
Rep. Donovan (D. 69) |
Sen. Mack (D. 6) |
Rep. Cortvriend (D. 72) |
Sen. Sosnowski (D. 37) |
Rep. McEntee (D. 33) |
Sen. Euer (D. 13) |
Rep. Kislak (D. 4) |
Sen. Acosta (D. 16) |
Rep. Knight (D. 67) |
Sen. Kallman (D. 15) |
Rep. Carson (D. 75) |
Sen. Coyne (D. 32) |
Rep. Biah (D. 3) |
Sen. Pearson (D. 19) |
Rep. McGaw (D. 71) |
Sen. DiMario (D. 36) |
Rep. Caldwell (D. 30) |
Sen. Miller (D. 28) |
Rep. Speakman (D. 68) |
Sen. Quezada (D. 2) |
Rep. Tanzi (D. 34) |
Sen. Bell (D. 5) |
Rep. Messier (D. 62) |
Sen. Murray (D. 3) |
Rep. Casimiro (D. 31) |
Sen. Lawson (D. 14) |
Rep. Potter (D. 16) |
Sen. Calkin (D. 30) |
Rep. Morales (D. 7) |
Sen. Seveney (D. 11) |
Rep. Blazejewski (D. 2) |
Sen. Mendes (D. 18) |
Rep. Ruggiero (D. 74) |
Sen. Anderson (D. 31) |
Rep. Batista (D. 12) |
Sen. Gallo (D. 21) |
Rep. Ranglin-Vassell (D. 5) |
|
Rep. Alzate (D. 60) |
|
Rep. Felix (D. 61) |
|
Rep. Barros (D. 59) |
|
Rep. Henries (D. 64) |
|
 |
 |
So many Rhode Islanders are struggling financially and lack the support to care for and raise their families. The government should not compound this problem by taking away affordable access to abortion. We trust people to make their own decisions about their bodies and about when they become a parent or add to their families. The government should not interfere with our bodily autonomy.
We are so grateful that the volunteers who spoke out for the RPA are willing to keep showing up to make sure that we see this through.
Together, we will make the right to abortion accessible in Rhode Island.
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Get Involved
Together, we can work to ensure that people who provide care are respected and that people who need abortion care can get it without judgment or barriers.
That is why we are working for the EACA, The Equality in Abortion Coverage Act!
Join our movement by signing up to do any or all of the following:
- Postcards, Letter to the Editors, Phone calls, Projections, Emails, Testimony submission
https://bit.ly/TWPCampaignTeams
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WATCH and LEARN HERE! | In partnership with the National Women’s Law Center, The Womxn Project co-hosted a (virtual) testimony writing workshop and social hour!
Join the guest speaker, Peshka Calloway, as she gives an amazing presentation on how to center and prepare for any testimony jitters and Priya Walia, esq. as we learn about RI and beyond with the process of preparing and giving testimony.
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WATCH HERE! | We are also hosting an event looking at abortion coverage, racial justice, & health equity in honor of “Abortion Provider Appreciation Day”. The event is co-hosted by the RI Medical Society, the Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians and the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity & Reproductive Rights!
Speaking:
Dr. Jennifer Buckley, RIAFP
Dr. Julie Blossom-Hartley
Karla Gonzales Garcia, COLOR
Moderating: Morgan Meneses-Sheets, TWP
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WATCH HERE | The Womxn Project is hosting a panel in honor of “International Women’s Day” looking at economic justice, Medicaid and abortion coverage in partnership with the Economic Progress Institute.
Speaking:
Rep. Liana Cassar
Sen Bridget Valverde
Linda Katz, Economic Progress Institute
Moderating: Jennifer Rourke, TWP
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SIGN THE PETITION to leadership and share it on any social media channels you are part of – add your name: http://bit.ly/EACAsenatepetition
Sample Tweet: #AbortionisHealthcare. @SenatorRuggerio, @SenMcCaffrey & Sen. @MaryellnGoodwin: don’t play games with healthcare in a pandemic! Move S0267, a bill to ensure health coverage for abortion, to the Health & Human Services Committee. PETITION: http://bit.ly/EACAsenatepetition. #Repro4RI4All
Sample Facebook: #AbortionisHealthcare. Senators Ruggerio, McCaffrey & Goodwin: don’t play games with our healthcare in the middle of a pandemic! Move S0267, a bill to ensure health coverage for abortion, to the Health & Human Services Committee. PETITION: http://bit.ly/EACAsenatepetition. #Repro4RI4All
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“The WELL,” our bi-monthly gatherings are a way The Womxn Project Education Fund has organized a space to look ahead into 2021 and what this landscape looks like for our health, self-care, activism, RI civics education, and more. It includes a range of subject matter experts who are addressing the EACA and beyond. Join us in these interesting and unique conversations, either in real time or on-demand. More here.
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Research
Equality in Abortion Coverage Act bill launch
Roe Anniversary
February 2020
Rhode Island State House
EACA Bill Sponsors and Support
See who signed onto the legislation from 2020
While Rhode Islanders traveled to DC to make our voices heard at the national level in protection of Roe, activists also came together to speak out for positive change back at home.