“The House of Representatives has taken a critical first step in removing medically unnecessary barriers to abortion care and ensuring that Bay Staters are no longer forced to fly across country or forced to go to court in order to get the abortion care they need. While our work is far from over, the ROE Act Coalition recognizes the passage of budget Amendment #759 as a significant accomplishment, years in the making.
“We thank House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Judiciary Committee Chair Claire Cronin for their leadership and for prioritizing the reproductive freedom of Bay Staters. We applaud the 108 members of the House who supported this amendment. The future of abortion access at the federal level is gravely uncertain, making it crucial that Massachusetts leads by improving access to abortion care.
“We look forward to the Senate’s debate and are confident that they will listen to the overwhelming majority of Massachusetts voters, activists, medical providers, and families who believe that all Bay Staters should be able to access the abortion care they need, free from shame, stigma, or medically unnecessary barriers.”
Background:
The ROE Act Coalition is a statewide coalition committed to protecting and improving access to abortion in Massachusetts. Founding organizations include the ACLU of Massachusetts, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, and Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts.
Massachusetts House adopts amendment to improve abortion access
The ROE Act Coalition issued the following statement on the Massachusetts House of Representatives adopting budget Amendment #759 as part of the FY2021 budget:
Amendment #759 contains essential provisions that will improve access to reproductive health care for pregnant people across the state. The amendment would allow 16 and 17 year olds to make their own decisions about abortion care without having to go before a judge; streamline access for those under 16 years old by allowing remote hearings, ensuring that no young person is ever forced to go to court to get medical care again; and enables families to obtain care later in pregnancy in cases of lethal fetal diagnosis—without having to travel across the country.