CITIZENS FOR CHOICE PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY – 2022
On June 24, 2022, our highest court, the U.S. Supreme Court, abandoned its historic role in protecting constitutional rights – ending the Constitutional right to choose abortion. In Dobbs v. Mississippi, the conservative majority overruled Roe v. Wade, precedent for nearly 50 years. Each state may now decide whether and how to regulate abortion. With no Constitutional limits, 26 states may ban abortion.
However, states like our own are working to strengthen access to safe, legal abortion care. Citizens for Choice is more committed than ever to that goal, and to reproductive health, rights and justice. Faced with the crisis caused by the Court’s gutting of abortion rights, we fully endorse making California a reproductive freedom state, one that is a haven for those seeking abortion care. Here’s how:
CALIFORNIA LAW AND POLICY
- Citizens for Choice supported the state Constitutional amendment passed in November, 2022 that strengthened and made explicit protections for abortion and contraceptives as fundamental rights.
- Citizens for Choice supported the December, 2021 recommendations of the CA Future of Abortion Council, including the $200 million budgeted to implement them. (See https://www.cafabcouncil.org/) We are now proud members of the FAB Council, continuing to work together with the Council to make abortion more accessible in California.
- CA FAB Council measures we successfully advocated for will:
o Increase the abortion provider workforce and expedite needed licensing
o Protect against penalties for obtaining an abortion or providing abortion care or aid
o Make abortions more affordable and support community clinics that offer abortion care
o Support cost-effective reproductive healthcare through telehealth and doula care
o Increase patient privacy protections for abortion care
o Address disparities in healthcare access
o Increase practical support for ancillary abortion costs
- Citizens for Choice successfully advocated for other priority legislation that :
o Addresses rising STI rates
o Increases payment levels for paid family leave
