Join Planned Parenthood , Reproductive Equity Now, Kent Street Coalition and other reproductive rights advocates at the State House Monday morning, January 27, to oppose HB 476, the GOP’s 15-week abortion ban.
Kent Street will gather in front of the State House at 9:00 am to hold signs and then join our coalition partners inside for the hearing at 9:30.
ACTIONS
1. SIGN IN TO OPPOSE HB 476.
Click here and follow the prompts to enter your personal information, the hearing date (Monday 1/27), the committee (House Judiciary) and the bill number (HB 476, 9:30 am). Indicate that you are a “member of the public” representing yourself, who OPPOSES HB 476. Upload PDF file of any written testimony and email your comments to the members of the House Judiciary.
2. ATTEND STATE HOUSE VISIBILITY.
Monday, January 27, 9 am in Front of the State House. Wear pink!
3. ATTEND THE HEARING ON HB 476.
Monday, January 27, 9:30 am (the hearing is currently scheduled to be held in the Legislative Office Building on the 2nd floor but there is a good chance it will be moved to Reps Hall in the State House). Wear pink!
4. TESTIFY IN PERSON.
See talking points below but remember, personal stories are often the most effective.
BACKGROUND AND TALKING POINTS
From our friends at Reproductive Equity Now (REN):
HB 476 – 15-Week Abortion Ban
New Hampshire remains the only state in New England without legal protections for abortion in state law or its constitution, opening the door to further attacks on our care. Now, lawmakers have introduced a bill to ban abortion after 15 weeks gestation, an arbitrary restriction on basic reproductive health care that will have devastating health and economic consequences for Granite Staters. A 15-week ban is far more restrictive than the precedent set by Roe v. Wade.
With no national or statewide protections, it is critical that we do not allow the right to abortion to continue to be eroded in New Hampshire.
Talking Points:
- This bill is about banning abortion, plain and simple. It would prevent health care professionals from providing the best medical care to Granite Staters, and have devastating consequences for patients’ health across our state.
- A 15-week ban is far more restrictive than the precedent set by Roe v. Wade. While Roe v. Wade did not go far enough to guarantee access to care for every person, a 15-week ban is even more restrictive than Roe’s 24-week gestational limit. Gestational bans are arbitrary restrictions on health care. No two pregnancies look alike, and pregnancy is far too complex to legislate at any point in pregnancy.
- Reproductive health care decisions should be between a patient and their doctor, without political interference, no matter what. We should allow health care professionals to use their best medical judgment, consistent with accepted clinical practices, to provide health care that protects the health of the patient throughout pregnancy.
- Abortion bans harm pregnant people, families, and communities. We’ve seen the horrific health impacts of abortion bans in states across the country, including women who have died after being denied life-saving abortion care. We also know that when women are denied access to abortion, they are at increased risk of experiencing poverty and unemployment, and are more likely to perform poorly on indicators of women’s health, children’s health, and social determinants of health.
- A 15-week abortion ban is not a “compromise.” This is an arbitrary ban on abortion that would force pregnant people to leave our state for essential reproductive health care. We know that anti-abortion politicians will not stop here in their attempts to ban abortion entirely in New Hampshire; this is not a solution or a compromise. There is no compromise on people’s fundamental rights to control their own bodies.
With eyes on the prize,
Louise
