NIRH Congratulates NJ Governor, Lawmakers, and Advocates on Introduction of Groundbreaking Bill to Protect and Expand Access to Reproductive Health Care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2020
Contact: Kelly Novak, [email protected]  

The Reproductive Freedom Act Will Expand Coverage for Abortion, Birth Control, and Pregnancy-Related Care

New York – The National Institute for Reproductive Heath (NIRH) congratulates New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, lawmakers, and advocates on their plan to introduce the Reproductive Freedom Act (RFA), groundbreaking legislation that will protect and expand access to reproductive health care in New Jersey, including abortion, birth control, and pregnancy-related care. 

Introduction of the RFA is a testament to the work of local advocates in the Thrive NJ coalition, with whom NIRH has partnered for the last two years. The RFA addresses critical barriers to accessing reproductive health care in the state: it ensures that New Jerseyans have the right to make decisions about their reproductive health care, including abortion, contraception and other pregnancy-related services, and would expand access by removing barriers to care, such as medically unnecessary restrictions and high or unaffordable costs. The RFA will help to ensure that all New Jerseyans, regardless of income, zip code, insurance coverage, or immigration status, will have access to high quality reproductive health care.

“Expanding access to reproductive care is critical for vulnerable communities who face exacerbated hurdles to accessing care, especially in the face of a global pandemic,” said Andrea Miller, president of the National Institute for Reproductive Health. “With the Trump administration and opponents of abortion access looking to consolidate power to deny us the freedom to control our lives at the most basic level, it is critical that states do everything they can to protect and advance access to reproductive health care, including abortion. We applaud Governor Murphy, the New Jersey legislative champions, and the advocates in the Thrive NJ coalition for stepping up to prioritize these issues. NIRH is proud to be part of the Thrive NJ coalition, and to support this effort to ensure greater health care access for all.” 

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The National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) is an advocacy group that works directly with state and local reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations and allied groups to protect and advance access to reproductive healthcare. Our strategy is to go on the offensive to pass laws that safeguard reproductive freedom. NIRH partners with communities to build coalitions, launch campaigns, and successfully advocate for policy change, so the fabric of reproductive freedom is harder to tear apart.