PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND OF NEW JERSEY

Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey applauds latest abortion rights bill, calls on legislators to be reproductive health champions 

TRENTON, NJ — Today, the New Jersey State Assembly introduced A4350, a bill that contains provisions to meaningfully expand access to abortion in New Jersey. Introduced as the nation awaits a U.S. Supreme Court decision that will overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that legalized abortion across the country nearly 50 years ago, this legislation will build on the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act, which was signed into law in January of this year and guarantees the right of all New Jerseyans to access reproductive health care.

The legislation includes the following important aspects, which break down barriers to care so that everyone – regardless of income, insurance coverage, or immigration status – can access the care they need and deserve:

• Codifies the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners (BME) scope of practice expansion into law, to ensure there continues to be increased access to trained and qualified abortion providers;

• Mandates that insurance plans in New Jersey cover abortion with no cost sharing or out of pocket costs, just like NY, ME, IL, CA, OR and WA have done; and

• Expands existing state programs that cover birth control and pregnancy-related care to also cover abortion services for those who face financial barriers.

In response to A4350’s introduction, Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, Vice President of Public Affairs with Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey issued the following statement:

“We applaud Assemblywomen Mila Jasey and Shanique Speight, the sponsors of A4350, for their efforts to protect and expand access to abortion care. As we await the high court’s decision to overturn Roe, every elected official in the country should be seeking to protect access to the full range of reproductive health care services, especially abortion care. We’re proud that New Jersey has been a leader in the fight for the human and civil rights of women and pregnant people.

“We encourage our legislators to address all of the very real gaps in access to abortion care that many New Jerseyans face. A right that cannot be exercised isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. Every New Jerseyean — regardless of where they live, their income, or immigration or insurance status — must have the resources and access to make their own decisions about birth control, prenatal care and abortion with dignity.

“We call on the legislature to pass this important legislation without delay. This is a moment to take action – a moment where the eyes of the nation will be on New Jersey.”

###

Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey (PPAFNJ) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization and the advocacy arm of the Planned Parenthood affiliates in New Jersey. We advocate for access to essential health care through education, activism, voter engagement, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy. For more information, visit our website at: www.ppactionnj.org.