NY Attorney General and Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Fund Abortion Clinic Program – NBC New York (47)

New York Attorney General Letitia James previously announced that the state would take steps to try to ensure abortion protections before any changes to Roe v. wade; it was revealed on Monday that those changes to the state will begin with funding.

At a news conference on protecting access to abortion rights, James, along with State Senator Cordell Cleare and Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas, announced new legislation to establish a statewide program that would provide financial resources to providers of abortion services. abortion in New York.

The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program would be a dedicated state program that would earmark approximately $50 million in funding for abortion care and providers. This would include funding for training, staffing, security, and even funding to cover the uninsured.

The state Department of Health would be in charge of the multimillion-dollar program.

This is a move in response to the leaked draft last week that Supreme Court justices are poised to overturn Roe v. Wade. A decision that could be given as early as July.

Lawmakers announced that the measure announced Monday protects reproductive care in New York and also for those of the conservatives who might end up coming to New York for abortions.

“If you cancel Roe [vs. Wade]26 states will or probably will ban abortion, and 58% of women of reproductive age or about 40 million women live in those states,” James said during the news conference.

According to James’ office, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019, 9% or about 7,000 of abortions performed in New York were for people from out of state. That number could rise to more than 32,000 if Roe vs. Wade.

James said that banning abortions would not prevent people from actually getting them, but rather it would prevent people from getting safe abortions.

“Health care is a fundamental human right and abortion is an essential aspect of women’s health care,” Cleare said, adding, “We will not be subject to the arbitrary whims of a politicized Supreme Court nor can we fund abortion services. medical care through private fundraising. Our women deserve better, and justice and equity demand it!”

Meanwhile, González-Rojas (D-NY) said New York will fight to protect the right.

“Whether you know it or not, everyone loves someone who has had an abortion,” she said. “New York needs to stand with our loved ones and fight to protect that right and access that right, while the Supreme Court has failed us.”

Wednesday is expected to be a key day on abortion rights as the Senate seeks to codify reproductive rights into federal law.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says this week’s Senate vote will show Americans where each senator stands on the issue.

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