New York City Becomes First City in the Nation to Directly Fund Abortion Care
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2019
Contact: Marisa Rodriguez, [email protected]
Statement from Andrea Miller, president, The National Institute for Reproductive Health and NIRH Action Fund
(New York, NY) — Today, as states across the country continue their attacks on abortion care, New York City reaffirmed its commitment to abortion access by including $250,000 in the FY2020 Budget for the New York Abortion Access Fund (NYAAF), becoming the first city in the nation to directly fund abortion care. With this investment, NYAAF will be able to help over 500 people from around the country annually cover the costs of their abortions.
“Today, New York City’s leaders made a loud and clear statement: no matter where you live or how much money you make, New York City is here for you,’” said Andrea Miller, President of the NIRH Action Fund. “The numerous abortion bans coming out of hostile state legislatures across this country have pushed abortion care out of reach for millions and often punish those seeking or providing abortions. But once again, New York is leading the charge when it comes to protecting and advancing a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her body, life, and future. We were proud to spearhead the #FundAbortionNYC campaign and combine forces with outstanding coalition partners and were thrilled to be joined by Comptroller Stringer to call for this funding initiative. We are excited the New York City Council and Speaker Johnson took this critical step forward, affirming New York City’s commitment to reproductive freedom.”
For more than a decade, NIRH has been a leader in the fight to advance reproductive freedom across the country. Recently, they were integral to the successful effort to repeal an outdated criminal abortion ban in Massachusetts, and they led the fight to pass New York’s landmark Reproductive Health Act. Earlier this year, NIRH published a report tracking the passage of more than 100 bills to advance reproductive health, rights, and justice in 27 states and the District of Columbia.
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The National Institute for Reproductive Health builds power at the state and local level to change public policy, galvanize public support, and normalize women’s decisions about abortion and contraception.
Using a partnership model, NIRH provides state and local advocates with strategic guidance, hands-on support, and funding to create national change from the ground up. We form strategic partnerships with a wide range of organizations to directly impact the reproductive health and lives of women across the country. Each year, NIRH works in at least 20 states and more than a dozen localities; to date, NIRH has partnered with more than 170 reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations in 43 states and 64 localities across the country.