NLIRH CELEBRATES OREGON’S GROUNDBREAKING BILLS

WASHINGTON, DC — The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health celebrates Oregon’s proactive efforts to improve healthcare for women and immigrant children. Today, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed into law the Reproductive Health Equity Act of 2017 (House Bill 3391). This bill ensures that Oregonians, regardless of income, citizenship status, gender identity or type of insurance, have access to the full range of preventive reproductive health services, including family planning, abortion, and postpartum care. Gov. Brown  also signed legislation known as Cover All Kids (Senate Bill 558) to extend healthcare coverage for all children who meet income-requirements, regardless of immigration status.

Ann Marie Benitez, senior director of government relations for NLIRH, issued the following statement:

“Today, NLIRH is proud to celebrate Oregon’s tremendous victory in the fight for health, dignity, and justice.  Thanks to the Reproductive Health Equity Act of 2017, Oregon is ensuring that all residents — regardless of income, type of insurance, citizenship status, or gender identity and expression — can decide when and whether to become a parent. For too long, abortion restrictions and bans at the federal and state levels have pushed critical and affordable reproductive care deeply out of reach for women across the nation.  For immigrant communities, harmful policies and legal barriers also work to deny millions of immigrants access to the care they need and when they need it. Thanks to Cover All Kids, Oregon is ensuring that immigrant children receive the healthcare they need to grow up healthy and thrive.  Oregon is an example of what it looks like when we draft policy solutions that actually expand coverage for the people that need it most. As we gear up to continue fighting conservative federal policies aimed at denying us coverage, we will look towards Oregon as a reminder of what is possible.  Our passion and vision for reproductive justice is what is going to move us forward. Congratulations Oregon!”

For more information on NLIRH’s fight for health, dignity and justice, visit us at latinainstitute.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @NLIRH.

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The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health is the only national reproductive justice organization dedicated to building Latina power to advance health, dignity, and justice for 28 million Latinas, their families, and communities in the United States through leadership development, community mobilization, policy advocacy, and strategic communications.