Reproductive Freedom Defense Act

May 10, 2022
Dear Neighbor,

The draft opinion leaked last week suggests that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, the half-century-old judgment that protects the right to safe, legal abortion. Although expected, this opinion question is no less devastating as it puts in jeopardy the future of reproductive healthcare in the United States. Additionally, the logic of the opinion would eviscerate protections for same-sex marriage, other LGBTQ rights, and contraception.
 
If Roe is struck down, nearly half of the states are positioned to ban or restrict access to abortion, with some states enacting laws to ban or burden such care outside of their borders.
 
I am proud to say that, during the 2022 Legislative Session, the Connecticut General Assembly passed the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, which legally protects medical providers and patients traveling to Connecticut seeking abortion care. This legislation also allows for advanced practitioners for whom abortion care is part of their scope of practice to perform certain first-trimester abortions.
 
 
Roe V. Wade was codified into the Connecticut Constitution in 1990. But now, with its overturning looming, the legislature has provided a safeguard protecting that right to an abortion and protecting a person's right to choose. Today, Governor Lamont signed this legislation into law, putting Connecticut at the forefront of protecting reproductive rights.
 
During these terrifying and uncertain times, I will continue to fight for the right to choose, protect practitioners and keep Connecticut a safe place for all.