WASHINGTON — Colorado House Democrats today prevailed over Republican obstructionists to pass the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which would enshrine abortion rights into state law and protect access to reproductive health care and information. The move to advance this legislation follows Maryland House Democrats passing a constitutional amendment on Friday that would enshrine abortion rights. Maryland House Democrats also pursued a separate measure that would expand access, increase the number of abortion providers in the state and require most insurance companies to cover the procedure.
“Colorado House Democrats didn’t back down from Republican obstructionists and instead spent nearly 24 straight hours defending the reproductive rights and freedom of all Coloradans,” said DLCC President Jessica Post. “This legislation, along with Maryland’s move to enshrine abortion rights, serves as a powerful reminder of the possibilities when we elect Democratic state legislatures: we can and will protect reproductive rights, expand health care access, and ensure that all people have the tools to care for themselves and their families. I hope that other state legislatures will look to Colorado and Maryland as examples and move to codify reproductive rights as the country braces for a post-Roe future.”
Colorado House Republicans callously spent 23 hours protesting the reproductive rights and freedom of Coloradans, even breaking a modern record to prevent a bill that would recognize people’s autonomy to make their own decisions about their bodies and futures. As Republicans attack wildly-popular reproductive rights at the state level and in the Supreme Court, state Democrats will continue to defend and expand these fundamental rights in order to ensure the health, safety, and financial security of the American people.
The most effective way to protect reproductive rights is by ensuring Democrats win state legislative races. The DLCC has launched the “States to Save Roe” website to help Democrats and the DLCC fight back against Republican attacks on abortion rights and to protect Democratic chambers like Colorado that serve as a firewall for access to reproductive health care and services.
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