For Immediate Release:

September 24, 2021

For More Information:
Karen Middleton, President

Laura K Chapin
Communications Consultant, Cobalt

 

COBALT APPLAUDS US HOUSE PASSING WOMEN’S HEALTH PROTECTION ACT

 

Denver –  Cobalt applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing H.R. 3755, the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), in a vote this morning. WHPA creates a federal safeguard against state-level bans and medically unnecessary restrictions that single out abortion and impede access to care. Cobalt is a part of a coalition of more than 100 federal, state and local organizations leading the effort to support the bill.

This is the first pro-active abortion rights legislation being voted on in Congress in nearly 30 years. Representatives DeGette, Neguse, Perlmutter, and Crow have all signed on as WHPA co-sponsors, as have Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet.

“Colorado is a pro-abortion rights state and WHPA reflects our longstanding values” said Cobalt President Karen Middleton. “We applaud the House for passing this critical legislation and we especially want to thank Rep Diana DeGette as Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus for her leadership role. WHPA is needed now more than ever. Since 2010, the Colorado General Assembly has seen 41 bills introduced trying to restrict abortion access and FOUR attempts to ban abortion on the ballot since 2008. Coloradans have said again and again they support abortion rights, and our federal laws should reflect those values.”

A poll conducted earlier this year by Hart Research Associates showed that a majority (61%) of voters believe abortion rights across the country should be protected with a new federal law like WHPA.

Since 2011, anti-abortion lawmakers have pushed more than 500 restrictive laws through state legislatures that make abortion difficult and, sometimes, impossible to access. These abortion restrictions and bans are becoming more extreme—and are disproportionately harming people who already face discriminatory obstacles to health care, particularly Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, those working to make ends meet, women, young people, people with disabilities, immigrants, people living in rural communities, and members of the LGBTQI+ community.

You can learn more about the Women’s Health Protection Act  HERE.

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Cobalt is a grassroots, statewide Colorado organization that advances abortion access and reproductive rights. Our organization began in 1967 when Colorado became the first state to allow safe, legal abortion. Cobalt believes nothing should stand between you and your health decisions, which is why we are dedicated to fighting for systems, structures and policies that protect reproductive rights and guarantee comprehensive, universal access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion.