Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act would protect women who travel to Colorado and other states for abortion care
Other bills would ensure military servicemembers can access reproductive care, protect access to abortion medication via telehealth & mail
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper this week signed onto three bills that would protect reproductive rights despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe v. Wade.
“The attack on reproductive freedom threatens jailing millions of women and their doctors,” said Hickenlooper. “These bills would protect women seeking care in Colorado. Now let’s vote.”
Specifically, Hickenlooper is cosponsoring the following:
Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act
- This bill would protect every woman’s constitutional right to travel across states lines to receive abortion care—and protect the providers who care for them.
- Legislation introduced in Missouri, and draft legislation proposed elsewhere, is targeting interstate travel for abortion care. The Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act underscores the Constitutional protections for interstate travel and provides redress for women whose rights are violated.
- The legislation would also protect health care providers in pro-choice states like Colorado from prosecution and lawsuits for serving individuals traveling from other states.
MARCH for Servicemembers Act
- The Military Access to Reproductive Care and Health (MARCH) for Military Servicemembers Act would expand abortion access for servicemembers by allowing military medical treatment facilities to provide abortion services and for the military to cover associated costs. Both are currently prohibited by the Hyde Amendment, except in extremely limited circumstances.
Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act
- The Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act would codify access to abortion pills in states where abortion is currently legal by protecting current FDA guidelines that allow women to access medication abortion through telehealth and certified pharmacies, including mail-order pharmacies.
- Many states and lawmakers have openly targeted abortion pills as the “next step” to restrict women’s access to abortion care.
- Over half of women who have an abortion will use medication abortion. In the 20 years since its approval, the evidence has shown that medication abortion can be prescribed to patients without an in-person appointment, is safe and effective for people to take in their own homes, and can be sent through the mail.
Hickenlooper is also a cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade, guarantee abortion rights, and protect providers.
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