Jan’s Plans & Pans – April 16, 2024

Dear Ms. Georgiann Carlson,

For my entire career, I have worked to advance reproductive freedom. I will always remember the horrifying story of my friend’s back-alley abortion pre-Roe v. Wade. Roe was not the beginning of women having abortions, it was the end of women dying from abortions.

Last week, the Arizona Supreme Court gave the go-ahead to enforce an antiquated law that bans nearly all abortions in the state. This cruel ban was first enacted in 1864—more than 150 years ago, before Arizona was even a state and well before women had secured the right to vote.

For me, the fight to protect reproductive freedom is about ensuring that everyone has access to the health care they need, regardless of their income or where they live. In Illinois, abortions remain legal, but the overturning of Roe has dramatically impacted our providers. Planned Parenthood of Illinois reported a 54% increase in patients seeking abortions since Roe was overturned and has seen patients travel from 38 states to get the care they need.

I will always defend Americans’ fundamental right to health care. As important as opening new clinics in pro-abortion states and recruiting additional providers is right now, it is not the long-term solution. We need to pass federal legislation to codify bodily autonomy. When we fight, we win!

Have a great rest of the week,