Bill Text: NJ AR181 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializes President and Congress to eliminate existing restrictions on abortion access and reject Supreme Court nominees who would impose new limits on reproductive freedom.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 18-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-09-27 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR181 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AR181-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman RAJ MUKHERJI
District 33 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Memorializes President and Congress to eliminate existing restrictions on abortion access and reject Supreme Court nominees who would impose new limits on reproductive freedom.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution memorializing Congress and the President of the United States to take certain actions to ensure that a woman can freely make reproductive health decisions and access reproductive health care, including abortion.
Whereas, Reproductive health is a critical component of a woman's overall health, and a woman's freedom to make reproductive decisions is vital to her safety, well-being, economic opportunity, and ability to participate equally in society; and
Whereas, Abortion is a part of women's health care; and
Whereas, In 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States determined, in the landmark case of Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), that a woman's decision to have an abortion is protected by the U.S. Constitution; and
Whereas, In 1992, and again in 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of women to access an abortion without undue burden; and
Whereas, More than 70 percent of Americans, including a majority of individuals from all major political parties, support access to abortion; and
Whereas, When it comes to the most important personal decisions in life, such as whether and when to become a parent, it is vital that a woman be able to make that decision for herself, based on what is best for her and her family, and it is further essential that the woman be provided with equal access to abortion and other reproductive health care, regardless of where she lives, how much money she makes, or her insurance or immigration status; and
Whereas, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who has recently been nominated for a post on the U.S. Supreme Court, has a history of ruling to impose and uphold limits on a woman's ability to access safe and legal abortion, and his potential appointment to the Supreme Court therefore poses a serious threat to women's reproductive rights; and
Whereas, The protections affirmed by the Supreme Court in the landmark Roe v. Wade case, and in subsequent cases, are now at risk, and the future of access to safe and legal reproductive health care, including abortion, is on the line; and
Whereas, As a state, New Jersey has made great strides in supporting women's health care by restoring funding for family planning services, and ensuring Medicaid coverage for reproductive health care, including abortion; and
Whereas,
New Jersey supports women's rights and women's health by facilitating full
access to all reproductive health care, including abortion, and the State is opposed
to federal measures or initiatives that will reduce women's rights or endanger
women's health, in this regard, including the imposition of restrictions on
insurance coverage for abortion, and the appointment of judges who are likely
to impose limits on women's rights and their access to reproductive health
care; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully opposes efforts by the federal government to restrict or limit a woman's right and ability to access the full range of reproductive services, including abortion.
2. This House respectfully opposes any nominee to the United States Supreme Court who is not committed to upholding a woman's right to reproductive health care, including equitable access to abortion.
3. This House respectfully calls upon the Congress and President of the United States to reject or revoke the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh and any other Supreme Court nominee who would move to limit the rights of women to access the full panoply of reproductive services, including abortion.
4. This House further urges the Congress and President of the United States to remove any existing restrictions on access to abortion, including restrictions on insurance coverage for women who are enrolled in public insurance programs.
5. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution reiterates the State's position with respect to women's reproductive rights and access to abortion, and it respectfully urges the Congress and President of the United States to: 1) reject or revoke the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh or any other Supreme Court nominee who would move to limit the rights of women to access the full panoply of reproductive services, including abortion; and 2) remove any existing restrictions on access to abortion, including restrictions on insurance coverage for women who are enrolled in public insurance programs.
The State of New Jersey recognizes that reproductive health is a critical component of a woman's overall health; that abortion is a legitimate part of women's health care; and that a woman's freedom to make reproductive decisions is vital to her safety, well-being, economic opportunity, and ability to participate equally in society.
Although the U.S. Supreme Court has held, both in the landmark decision Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), and in subsequent decisions, that a woman's decision to have an abortion is protected by the U.S. Constitution, and that a woman has the right to access an abortion without undue burden, these Supreme Court holdings are now at risk, because of a vacancy on the court. Specifically, because the current nominee for the Supreme Court vacancy - Judge Brett Kavanaugh - has a history of ruling to impose and uphold limits on a woman's ability to access safe and legal abortion, his appointment to the Supreme Court may allow for the significant dilution or overruling of previous Supreme Court holdings on this issue. Combined with the existing federal restrictions on abortion, including insurance coverage restrictions for low-income individuals, such a change in Supreme Court precedent could have devastating effects on the reproductive rights and health of women in the State and nation.
