Rep. Panetta and Asm. Pellerin Hold Roundtable at Planned Parenthood to Discuss Continued Access to Reproductive Health Care Services
Santa Cruz, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and California Assemblymember Gail Pellerin visited the Planned Parenthood Westside Health Center in Santa Cruz to hold a roundtable discussion with providers and patient advocates on reproductive health care. With new laws and challenges to curtail access to reproductive care and renewed energy across the country to protect patient choice, the discussion touched on the services in California and the challenges of accessing reproductive health care across the country.
Nearly a year and a half has passed since the Supreme Court overturned the right to essential reproductive care. As a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, nearly 22 million women live in states where abortion is now unavailable. Furthermore, the case of Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA could further restrict access to medication abortion nationwide. Medication abortion accounts for more than half (54%) of all abortions in the U.S. Rep. Panetta is part of an amicus brief arguing in favor of protecting access to this care.
“Thanks to the amazing work of its supporters, staff, and patient advocates, Planned Parenthood continues to provide safe, secure, and accessible reproductive health care for women and men in the 19th Congressional District,” said Rep. Panetta. “It always is beneficial to visit and hear from those involved with providing reproductive services as we continue our fight in Congress against efforts to limit such essential health care. It is not enough to rely on our laws in California as we must continue to ensure access to reproductive health care in our state and work to increase and protect a woman’s right to choose in other states.”
Recent elections continued a trend with every state ballot measure on reproductive rights, following the overturning of Roe, coming out in favor of choice even in traditionally conservative states like Kansas, Kentucky, and Ohio. Efforts are now underway in nine more states in order to protect fundamental reproductive health care.
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