FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Contact: Kelsey Cowger, kelsey@progressva.org, 434-484-2795
RICHMOND, Va. – Today a resolution to amend the Virginia constitution to protect reproductive freedom (SJ247) passed out of its Senate committee by a vote of . Its House cognate (HJ1) was advanced by the full House by a vote of 51:48. These are some of the first steps in a multi-year effort to enshrine protection of reproductive freedom in Virginia’s constitution.
The members of Virginians for Reproductive Freedom (VRF) are gratified that these resolutions continue to advance on the way to becoming a constitutional amendment. VRF released the following statement:
“The vast majority of Virginians agree that a pregnant person and their medical provider should be the only ones making decisions during a pregnancy, but right now in Virginia, access to reproductive care depends on the whims of whoever is in office,” said Gabriella Watson, Virginia State Policy Advocate for National Latina Institute of Reproductive Justice, a member of VRF. “This is why we need to enshrine access to reproductive healthcare somewhere beyond the reach of politicians – and that’s Virginia’s constitution. Virginia’s commitment to reproductive freedom must be deeper and longer-lasting than merely enacting a new law, and lawmakers recognized that today when they moved the process to amend Virginia’s constitution to protect reproductive freedom forward. Virginians for Reproductive Freedom will be involved in this process every step of the way over the next two years.”
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Virginians for Reproductive Freedom
American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – Virginia
Birth in Color
Equality Virginia
Freedom Virginia
Hamkae Center
League of Women Voters – Virginia
National Council of Jewish Women – Virginia
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice – Virginia
National Women’s Political Caucus – Virginia
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia
Progress Virginia
REPRO Rising Virginia
Whole Woman’s Health Alliance
A Woman’s Choice Danville
Virginia Reproductive Equity Alliance
Young Feminist Party of Virginia