Matt Blumenthal

State Representative Matt Blumenthal (D-Stamford) spoke as a panelist at the White House State Legislative Convening on Reproductive Rights on Thursday in Washington. The event brought together 83 state legislators from 41 states to highlight state-level attacks on reproductive rights and discuss efforts to protect and expand access to abortion care. 

Representative Blumenthal was invited to speak at the convening due to his leadership on legislation protecting and increasing access to reproductive rights and healthcare in Connecticut. Specifically, Representative Blumenthal introduced and led the passage of the Connecticut Reproductive Freedom Defense Act (H.B. 5414) in 2022, a first-in-the-nation law that provides protection to medical providers, patients, and others seeking or helping others obtain safe, legal abortions and gender-affirming care in Connecticut from other states that have criminalized or otherwise burdened such care. Additionally, it expanded healthcare access in Connecticut by broadening the types of advanced practitioners eligible to perform certain abortion-related care.

"It's an honor to stand alongside so many champions for reproductive rights and access," said Representative Blumenthal. "Connecticut has long been a leader on these issues. As patients and providers contend with draconian, barbaric, and life-threatening infringements on their rights to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare, it's more essential than ever that pro-choice states — and their lawmakers — link arms and share lessons learned in this battle. I’m proud that my colleagues and I are playing a role in that endeavor.”

The White House State Legislative Convening on Reproductive Rights comes at a crucial time, just ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, emphasizing the critical nature of the discussion.