Today, July 8, 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris convened state legislative leaders from Indiana, Florida, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Montana who are fighting on the frontlines to protect reproductive rights. All five states have Republican-controlled state legislatures and Republican governors, and may soon call special sessions to pass abortion bans. The convening follows meetings about reproductive rights that the Vice President has held with health care providers, faith leaders, constitutional law and privacy experts, advocates, and Attorneys General.
During the meeting, the Vice President discussed actions the Administration is taking to defend abortion rights, including the President’s signing of the Executive Order Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care Services. The Vice President reiterated the Administration’s commitment to partnering with elected leaders at the local, state, and federal level to protect reproductive health care access.
The state legislative leaders shared what is happening in their states as extremist legislators are fighting to further limit reproductive health care access following the Supreme Court overruling Roe v. Wade. They discussed the importance of patient privacy and spoke out against government inference in decisions that should be made between a woman and her doctor. They also shared concerns about other rights that are being attacked on the state level, including voting rights and LGBTQI+ rights. The Vice President and the state leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working together to protect reproductive rights and freedoms for all women, no matter where they live.
State legislative leaders included:
- Indiana House Minority Leader Representative Phil GiaQuinta
- Florida incoming House Democratic Leader Representative Fentrice Driskell
- South Dakota House Minority Whip Erin Healy
- Nebraska Senator Patty Pansing Brooks
- Montana Senator Diane Sands
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