Opening Statement of Councilmember David Grosso

Committee on Government Operations

Public Hearing on B23-434 “Strengthening Reproductive Health Protections
Amendment Act of 2019”
December 19, 2019

Across the country, reproductive health decisions—and specifically abortion rights—are under
attack.

As the Trump administration is fulfilling its promise to nominate more conservative federal
judges, legislatures across the country are enacting unconstitutional laws that restrict access to
abortion.

In some cases, laws like Alabama’s, the strictest abortion ban in the country, are crafted in such
a way to force the Supreme Court to revisit the landmark Roe v. Wade.

In other states, the laws are meant to make access to abortion so difficult that it will not matter
whether Roe stands or not.

However, another movement is growing, one that seeks to positively and proactively protect
the people’s right to make their own reproductive health decisions.

I believe the District of Columbia should be at the forefront of that movement. This fall I
introduced the Strengthening Reproductive Health Protections Amendment Act of 2019 along
with you Chairperson Todd, as well as Councilmembers Brianne Nadeau, Charles Allen, Elissa
Silverman, Anita Bonds, and Mary Cheh.

The bill is simple. It makes clear that D.C. residents have the right, in consultation with their
doctor and free from government interference, to make medical decisions about
contraception, abortion, or carrying a pregnancy to term.

With this bill, the District has the unique opportunity to enshrine a positive right to choose into
the D.C. Human Rights Act, leaving no doubt that the District of Columbia stands for
reproductive health freedom. The bill will:

Recognize the right to choose or refuse abortion care, sterilization procedures, or

contraceptives;

Prohibit penalizing self-managed abortion; and prohibit discrimination against health care
professionals by a health care provider, based on the professional’s participation in abortion
care.

Since January, 10 states have passed total or near-total bans on abortion.

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It is more important than ever to enact policies that articulate a positive right protecting safe,
legal abortion.

While we are well aware that the District of Columbia is subject to the whims of Congress, we
are fortunate right now to have a pro-reproductive health majority in the House of
Representatives;

Nevertheless, it is imperative that as a city we do our part to protect the rights of our residents.

We need lasting protection for reproductive health access now, no matter what happens in
Congress.

This legislation ensures that everyone in D.C. has access to the full range of reproductive
health care, including abortion.

Our residents deserve more access to health care, not less. This bill will help to secure a future
that safeguards abortion care and respects decision-making.

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