For Immediate Release:
February 28, 2022

For More Information:
Laura K Chapin
Communications Consultant, Cobalt

 

COBALT APPLAUDS SENATORS BENNET AND HICKENLOOPER FOR VOTING FOR THE WOMEN’S HEALTH PROTECTION ACT

 

Denver – Cobalt applauds Colorado’s US Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper for voting to advance H.R. 3755, the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), in the Senate this afternoon. WHPA creates a federal safeguard against state-level bans and medically unnecessary restrictions that single out abortion and impede access to care. Cobalt is part of a coalition of more than 100 federal, state, and local organizations leading the effort to support the bill. It passed the House in September.

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 Political Director Selina Najar. “Senator Bennet has been a champion for abortion rights and our Colorado values, which is why we endorsed him early for re-election. And we are equally grateful Colorado sent Senator John Hickenlooper, a longtime advocate for reproductive rights, to the Senate in 2020. Elections matter, and we saw proof of that today.

We especially want to thank Rep Diana DeGette as Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus for her leadership role on the Women’s Health Protection Act. WHPA is needed now more than ever, since as of last week the Colorado General Assembly has seen 44 bills introduced trying to restrict abortion access since 2010 and FOUR attempts to ban abortion on the ballot since 2008. Coloradans have said again and again they support abortion rights, and our state and federal laws should reflect those values.”

Najar concluded, “Today’s WHPA vote further underscores how critical it is for the Colorado General Assembly to pass, and for the Governor to sign, the Reproductive Health Equity Act. We must put protections for abortion access into Colorado law, especially as Roe hangs in the balance. We must Pass RHEA Now and put our Colorado values into state law.”

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.