NJ Advocates Keep Pushing For ‘Reproductive Freedom Act’

NEW JERSEY — Advocates for a proposed state law that would codify abortion protections in New Jersey plan to hold a virtual roundtable to push for the bill on Thursday, May 20.

Gov. Phil Murphy and Planned Parenthood Action Fund president and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson will participate in a roundtable discussion about the Reproductive Freedom Act, which is set for Thursday at 11 a.m. Other speakers will include the bill’s primary sponsors, Sen. Loretta Weinberg and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle.

Register for the webinar online here. The event will also be streamed on Facebook.

According to a statement from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, the Reproductive Freedom Act was introduced in the New Jersey state Legislature in early October 2020. If passed into law, the bill would protect and expand “essential reproductive health care,” including abortion, prenatal care and birth control.

Murphy has previously expressed his support for passing the bill.

The governor’s office said the bill would protect and expand access to reproductive health care services in three key ways:

ABORTION/BIRTH CONTROL – “The Reproductive Freedom Act explicitly ensures all New Jerseyans have the right to make their own personal health decisions when it comes to birth control and pregnancy-related care, including abortion. The decision about whether and when to become a parent is one of the most important life decisions we make. We need to trust all people who can become pregnant to make decisions about their own health and lives.”

FINANCIAL BARRIERS – “The Reproductive Freedom Act makes certain that financial barriers do not prevent anyone from making their own personal health decisions when it comes to birth control and pregnancy-related care, including abortion. Key provisions of the bill require private insurance coverage for birth control and abortion care with no out-of-pocket costs, to ensure that a person’s income or insurance status do not dictate their ability to access time-sensitive health care.”

BREAKING DOWN RESTRICTIONS – “The Reproductive Freedom Act expands access to birth control and pregnancy-related care including abortion by breaking down medically-unnecessary restrictions that right now only serve to block access to care. It is time to secure a future that safeguards reproductive care, upholds basic rights and justice, and respects decision-making throughout pregnancy.”

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