Congressman Connolly has always defended the right for women to make their own decisions in regards to their reproductive freedoms and bodies, especially in the face of an increasingly extreme Republican party and a conservative majority on the Supreme Court. The recent decision to eliminate the Constitutional Right of women to control their own bodies is abhorrent to American values and must be overturned.
The greatest priority for Congressman Connolly is codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law, and the right for women to make choices about their own body. As Congressman Connolly warned, the religious right had no interest in stopping at abortion restrictions, and would be coming for birth control and IVF next. Sadly, we’ve seen a wave of actions from around the country based on right-wing theology.
Congressman Connolly is an original co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which establishes a statutory right for health care professionals to provide abortion care and the right for their patients to receive care, free from bans and medically unnecessary restrictions that single out abortion care.
Congressman Connolly is leading the effort in the House to protect IVF, starting with ensuring federal employees are guaranteed insurance coverage for IVF. He’s also supported federal legislation to protect the right to access IVF for all Americans.
He has led the fight to overturn the Hyde Amendment to allow federal funding for abortion, fought to stop the government from trying to pry their way into the personal business of a woman and her doctor, and defended Planned Parenthood and the indispensable services they provide from constant Republican political attacks.
When abortions are banned, they don’t stop happening – they just become more dangerous, and only available to those who can afford them. As with most issues, access to reproductive rights can depend on one’s race, income, and background. Congressman Connolly understands the need for equal and equitable access to Medicaid, funding for affordable family planning and abortion coverage, and ending workplace discrimination due to pregnancy or related medical conditions – a focus of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which the Congressman co-sponsored. He is proud that his advocacy for female and reproductive rights has gained him the endorsements of Planned Parenthood Action Fund as well as an 100% voting record from NARAL.
Congressman Connolly also co-sponsored the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, which moves to revise areas of the CDC to better gather and analyze information in an effort to lower mortality rates of expecting women. Restoring women’s right to choose and improving maternal health are a top priority for the Congressman.