In CT, PPSNE worked in
several coalitions to help
pass bills that would limit
gun violence, provide justice
for disabled victims of rape,
establish a task force to study
a state family and medical leave insurance program, and
protect nearly 37,000 low-income HUSKY parents in
danger of losing health coverage. We also prevented a
last-minute amendment threat to require parental notice
prior to abortion.
In RI, the General Assembly went beyond its session
deadline, and under suspended rules, passed a bill for
a “choose life” license plate with the proceeds going
to fund a local anti-choice crisis pregnancy center.
However, Governor Chafee vetoed that bill later in
July. The RI Senate also passed a bill requiring that
three insurance plans in the RI exchange not cover
abortion, and that enrollees in those plans would have
the “mandatory abortion fee” (a negligible amount)
refunded. Fortunately, this bill was not raised for a
vote in the House. An enormous amount of time and
eort was spent by our sta and contract lobbyists on
these legislative battles—especially those fought in RI.
Regardless of the outcomes, we have seen an inspiring
and passionate response from our supporters.
A major focus of our work this year has been to introduce
advocacy opportunities for patients in the waiting areas
of PPSNE health centers. The Health Center Advocacy
Program (HCAP) has engaged 15 volunteers/interns who
primarily promote the ACA, collecting nearly 700 supporter
signatures during more than 800 conversations in our waiting
rooms across both states.
Our RI HCAP project has resulted in the collection of more than
400 “Obamacare Works” cards and 87 “I Stand with Planned
Parenthood” cards from our
patients. We collected more
than 100 personal stories
from our patients that often
focused on their experiences
receiving health services
at Planned Parenthood, as
well as their access to health
insurance, lack of it, and the importance of gaining coverage.
PPSNE is committed to building a robust Rhode Island
Coalition for Reproductive Justice (RICFRJ). Public Policy
and Advocacy sta members have grown the coalition to
include 17 partner organizations and received a generous
National Institute for Reproductive Health grant to formalize
the group, host trainings and recruit additional partners. The
RICFRJ held a strategic retreat in August and promoted a
robust proactive legislative package of 14 bills in 2014 to
put the anti-abortion agenda on defense. We also created
a well-trained, message-disciplined group of faithful voices
and leaders who advocate for our
coalition issues. These leaders include
ve religious leaders who serve on a
steering committee, 12 leaders who
have signed onto a family planning
expansion eort, and 29 leaders who
have signed a reproductive justice letter
to support this organizing initiative.
Our community engagement eorts are vital in helping
us contribute to health equity and improved sexual and
reproductive health outcomes among the African-American
and Black and Latino/a communities. In the North End of
Hartford, Public Policy and Advocacy sta members have
reached out to community-based organizations that work
on issues that aect local families daily. We helped plan
Mothers United Against Violence’s 6
th
Annual March Against
Gun Violence—one example of our work with nontraditional
coalition partners. Our work in the Latino/a community
has recently been focused on
advocacy eorts for the ACA
and immigration reform. As a
result, community partnerships
have doubled in the last eight
months. PPSNE sta members serve on Connecticut’s
Immigrant Rights Alliance, work to expand our promotores
program, train additional community members to be
advocates for reproductive justice, and expand our reach
and role in the Latino/a Community.
The 2013 legislative sessions concluded in both states with the following results:
I
STAND
WITH
PLANNED
PARENTHOOD
®
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