San Francisco Board of Supervisors Calls for Expanded Access to Safe, Legal Reproductive Health Care
Municipal resolution declares February “Women, Girls, and Transgender Women’s Health Month,” calls for passage of federal Women’s Health Protection Act
(PRESS RELEASE) San Francisco Supervisor David Campos endorsed a municipal resolution today declaring February “Women, Girls, and Transgender Women’s Health Month,” calling for increased access to safe and legal reproductive health care, including abortion, contraception, and other essential health care services.
Today’s resolution also pledged support for the federal Women’s Health Protection Act (S1691/HR 3471), a Congressional bill designed to end the recent wave of anti-choice laws preventing women from accessing their constitutional right to an abortion—ensuring a woman’s constitutional rights do not depend on her zip code.
Said Nancy Northup, President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights:
“California has a proud history of leading the nation in protecting women’s health and safety. It is only fitting that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors would take this bold step in asserting the vital importance of women’s access to the full range of reproductive health care services.
“Women are experiencing unprecedented attacks on their constitutionally protected right to abortion services in dozens of states. The Women’s Health Protection Act would put a stop to the recent avalanche of laws and regulations that severely interfere with women’s ability to make deeply personal medical decisions.
“We hope more elected officials across the country will follow San Francisco’s lead and declare their support for the historic Women’s Health Protection Act and all policies that advance women’s access to essential reproductive health care.”
The Board of Supervisor’s resolution states that “women, girls, and transgender women are only safe and secure if they have access to the full range of reproductive health care services including all FDA approved contraceptives, access to abortion, and preventative health care services including breast and cervical cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), prenatal and postnatal care, medically accurate comprehensive sexual health education, and screenings for inter-personal violence.”
San Francisco is the first municipality to introduce a resolution affirming its support of the Women’s Health Protection Act. In January, three city council members in Austin, Texas urged the U.S. Congress to immediately pass the federal bill and repeal recent state attacks on women’s access to abortion services.
The Women’s Health Protection Act was introduced last fall by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Lois Frankel and Rep. Marcia Fudge—currently has 34 Senate sponsors and 100 sponsors in the House.