{"id":2795,"date":"2022-05-04T14:37:30","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T21:37:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/pedersen\/?p=2795"},"modified":"2022-05-04T15:20:21","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T22:20:21","slug":"washington-will-defend-reproductive-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/pedersen\/2022\/05\/04\/washington-will-defend-reproductive-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington will defend reproductive rights"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear friends and neighbors,<\/p>\n

This week\u2019s release of a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion suggesting the Court may be poised to overturn Roe v. Wade represents a radical and dangerous attack on the right to privacy under the federal constitution, potentially calling into question rights from access to contraceptives to marriage equality. Here in Washington, our state constitution has provided explicit protection for the right to privacy since it was adopted in 1889.<\/p>\n

Our state also has a long history of protecting abortion rights, starting with a 1970 referendum<\/a> approved by the voters. Access to safe and legal reproductive services will continue to be available regardless of what the Court\u2019s final decision says. In fact, this year the legislature passed House Bill 1851<\/a> to support our trained health care providers and ensure that abortion care is safely regulated while ending unnecessary restrictions.<\/p>\n

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Washington was the first state to legalize abortion through a vote of the people in 1970. In this photo from MOHAI, supporters of abortion reform board buses during the Referendum 20 campaign in Seattle on March 28, 1970.<\/p><\/div>\n

Although people in Washington will be protected, we must continue fighting for the fundamental rights of everyone in the United States.\u00a0 Those rights are in jeopardy under a Court that is far out of step with the people of Washington and our country. I was glad to see so many of my colleagues<\/a> at the state and federal level voice strong opposition<\/a> to any attack on the rights we treasure here in Washington. I will continue to work with my colleagues to strengthen our state protections and ensure providers have the resources to make sure Washington is a sanctuary for individuals seeking safe abortion care.<\/p>\n

Improving health care<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ensuring safe access to abortion care was just one on the health care issues the Legislature considered during this year\u2019s legislative session.<\/p>\n

I was proud to support critical health care investments in the supplemental budget, including $450 million to increase access to services for people with a developmental disability or with long-term care needs. We allocated roughly another $350 million to strengthen our state\u2019s popular Paid Family and Medical Leave program and added nearly $150 million for COVID-19 testing and outbreak response.<\/p>\n

In addition to those investments, we passed several pieces of legislation to improve access to care. Here are a few highlights:<\/p>\n