REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
I believe that equitable access to reproductive healthcare is a basic right that is essential for family planning, reproductive freedom and public health.
That’s why we must stand strong against the actions of Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Legislature that aim to eliminate a woman’s right to control her body.
As a Council Policy Advisor for District 5, I worked with Planned Parenthood to support reproductive healthcare. I will continue Austin’s efforts to support women – efforts like protecting Planned Parenthood against legislative attacks by extending our city’s East 7th clinic lease to protecting reproductive health this year with the GRACE Act.
Additionally, our city has taken steps to expand city health insurance coverage for low-cost birth control, support city employees with access to reproductive health care services, and create a public education program to support long-term birth control.
I will prioritize investment to protect women’s healthcare by:
- Supporting Health Department funding for reproductive health and wellness services, including contraception and access to free menstrual products.
- Continuing support for the GRACE Act which disallows the use of City funds to solicit, catalog, report, or investigate reports of abortion; and directs Austin police to make investigating abortion their lowest add word priority
- Supporting funding for a public awareness and education campaign in collaboration with Planned Parenthood and the community’s healthcare providers to publicize access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).
- Continuing to leverage federal funds for the Maternal Infant Outreach Program to support African American women throughout their pregnancy and the first year of their child’s life and the Austin Healthy Adolescent Program which offers peer to peer health education to prevent teen pregnancy.
- Coordinating pressure on the State of Texas to release federal funds already allocated to Planned Parenthood for basic health care screenings and treatment