Stand Up, Fight TRAP: A Policy and Advocacy Resource to Counter Clinic Shutdown Laws

Clinics across the country are being forced to close their doors, making it even harder for a woman to get the abortion care she needs, simply because some politicians want to play politics with women’s health.

These medically unnecessary restrictions – commonly referred to as targeted regulation of abortion providers, or TRAP laws – are intended to circumvent established law by imposing onerous and medically unnecessary restrictions that force clinics to close. Politicians are trying to sneak around the Constitution with the intention of making safe and legal reproductive health care that much more difficult to obtain, especially for poor and marginalized communities.

We need to put a stop to politically motivated abortion restrictions and protect not just a woman’s right to make her own decisions, but her ability to receive safe abortion care in her own community. Every woman deserves to be treated with dignity and respect while making her own personal health care decisions. We encourage advocates to use the model policies, talking points, research, and advocacy resources in this guide to work towards preventing or repealing harmful policies in your state.