On Wednesday, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) announced legislation that would expand reproductive health care in the state, particularly access to abortion, and other state efforts to reduce it.
Speaking from behind a pink poster, Murphy published several proposals based on the Reproductive Freedom Act, which enacted the right to abortion into state law earlier this year.
“In the coming weeks, the most right-wing majority in the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to set a precedent of 50 years and, for the first time in American history, reverse the decision to reduce our rights. said the governorHe explained the momentum for his proposals.
“Without access, rights are meaningless,” he added.
Murphy called on the State Assembly to pass legislation extending the Reproductive Freedom Act, such as:
- Teach New Jersey insurance plans to cover abortion out of your own pocket for free.
- Expand the number of potential abortion providers to include advanced nurses, midwives, and medical assistants.
- Establish a Reproductive Health Access Fund to expand and protect reproductive health care providers.
- Protect health care providers and patients who provide or receive abortion care from lawsuits initiated by state governments that prohibit abortion.
This last point is a particularly interesting event. While Republican -led states across the country have imposed abortion bans aimed at challenging Ro Wade, some, like Texas, have moved further away.
In Texas, every private individual is entitled to save $ 10,000 if they successfully sue a man who led or helped a woman have an abortion after determining fetal heart activity, which can occur in the sixth week of pregnancy. This may include taking the woman to an airport to seek medical attention in another state.
Murphy did not detail how he intended to protect New Jersey health care providers from lawsuits in other states, but he stands by the obligation.
“Let me be clear,” he said In the statement After the speech. “New Jersey will not cooperate with out -of -area investigations by our health care workers that seek to punish anyone – a patient, doctor, counselor, friend or Uber driver – for abortion.
“Abortion is a health issue and health care decisions should be up to the individual.” He added. “With the law we announced today, New Jersey will continue to move toward reproductive freedom.”
Source: Huffpost
