New York, New York | January 22, 2015
The New York City Council passed Resolution 544 calling upon the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to protect women’s reproductive health and rights, specifically underscoring the importance of the Women’s Health Protection Act in safeguarding a woman’s free exercise of her reproductive rights. The Council urged Congress to pass crucial legislation “limiting government interference with the provision of abortion services and ensuring legal, safe abortion care is available to any woman who needs it.” Under the leadership of Council Member Laurie Cumbo, the Committee on Women’s Issues pre-considered the resolution, passing it unanimously.
Houston, Texas | August 11, 2014
Houston Mayor Annise Parker and eight members of the Houston City Council joined the growing call in Texas for the U.S. Congress to immediately pass the federal Women Health Protection Act and for the Texas state legislators to repeal House Bill 2. Mayor Parker, Mayor Pro-Tem Ed Gonzales, Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Jerry Davis, and Council Members Stephen Costello, David Robinson, Ellen Cohen, Robert Gallegos, Mike Laster, and Larry Green wrote in their letter, “As City Council Members, it is our duty to protect our constituents… Houston residents and those who may come to Houston should have access to safe, legal reproductive health care.”
Dane County, Wisconsin | March 6, 2014
The Dane County Board of Supervisors passed Resolution 250 (pp. 254-6), supporting the Women’s Health Protection Act. The Board also resolved its support for a woman’s access safe and legal abortion and called on the Wisconsin Legislature to repeal laws inconsistent with protecting individual health and ensuring a woman’s right to determine when and whether to bear a child. Dane County is home to only one of four abortion clinics in the state, and so this resolution is an appeal on behalf of all Wisconsin women to protect their constitutional rights.
San Francisco, California | February 14, 2014
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to pass a municipal resolution declaring February “Women, Girls, and Transgender Women’s Health Month” and affirming San Francisco’s support for the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2013. The resolution calls for increased access to safe and legal reproductive health care, including abortion, contraception, and other essential health care services, and encourages San Francisco women, girls, and transgender women to sign up for health coverage through California’s new state insurance exchange, Covered California.
Austin, Texas | January 7, 2014
City Council Members in Austin, Texas, issued a letter urging the U.S. Congress to immediately pass the federal Women’s Health Protection Act and calling for the repeal of House Bill 2—a state law passed last summer that has already had a devastating impact on women’s ability to safely and legally end a pregnancy throughout Texas. Council Member Bill Spelman, Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole, and Council Member Laura Morrison wrote in their letter, “As City Council Members, it is our duty to protect our constituents… Austin residents and those who may come to Austin should have access to safe, legal reproductive health care.”