Bill Text: NJ SR96 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Memorializes President and Congress to eliminate existing restrictions on abortion access and reject Supreme Court nominees who would impose new limits on reproductive freedom.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-10-29 - Filed with Secretary of State [SR96 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-SR96-Amended.html
SENATE RESOLUTION No. 96
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 13, 2018
Sponsored by:
Senator LORETTA WEINBERG
District 37 (Bergen)
Senator TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Ruiz, Gopal, Greenstein and Lagana
SYNOPSIS
Memorializes President and Congress to eliminate existing restrictions on abortion access and reject Supreme Court nominees who would impose new limits on reproductive freedom.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As amended by the Senate on October 29, 2018.
A Senate Resolution memorializing Congress and the President of the United States to take certain actions to ensure that a woman can freely make reproductive health decisions and access reproductive health care, including abortion.
Whereas, Reproductive health is a critical component of a woman's overall health, and a woman's freedom to make reproductive decisions is vital to her safety, well-being, economic opportunity, and ability to participate equally in society; and
Whereas, Abortion is a part of women's health care; and
Whereas, In 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States determined, in the landmark case of Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), that a woman's decision to have an abortion is protected by the U.S. Constitution; and
Whereas, In 1992, and again in 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of women to access an abortion without undue burden; and
Whereas, More than 70 percent of Americans, including a majority of individuals from all major political parties, support access to abortion; and
Whereas, When it comes to the most important personal decisions in life, such as whether and when to become a parent, it is vital that a woman be able to make that decision for herself, based on what is best for her and her family, and it is further essential that the woman be provided with equal access to abortion and other reproductive health care, regardless of where she lives, how much money she makes, or her insurance or immigration status; and
Whereas, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who has recently been 1[nominated for a post on] appointed to1 the U.S. Supreme Court, has a history of ruling to impose and uphold limits on a woman's ability to access safe and legal abortion, and his 1[potential]1 appointment to the Supreme Court therefore poses a serious threat to women's reproductive rights; and
Whereas, The protections affirmed by the Supreme Court in the landmark Roe v. Wade case, and in subsequent cases, are now at risk, and the future of access to safe and legal reproductive health care, including abortion, is on the line; and
1Whereas, Twenty states are poised to ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, which would result in over 25 million women of reproductive age - more than a third of women of reproductive age in America - losing access to safe, legal abortion in their home states; and1
Whereas, As a state, New Jersey has made great strides in supporting women's health care by restoring funding for family planning services, and ensuring Medicaid coverage for reproductive health care1[, including abortion]1; and
Whereas, New Jersey supports women's rights and women's health by facilitating full access to all reproductive health care, 1[including abortion,]1 and the State is opposed to federal measures or initiatives that will reduce women's rights or endanger women's health, in this regard, including the imposition of restrictions on insurance coverage for abortion, and the appointment of judges who are likely to impose limits on women's rights and their access to reproductive health care; and
Whereas, New Jersey is already a leader on access to reproductive health care, and will work to continue to be such a leader, in support of both New Jersey women and women in the 20 states across the country who are poised to lose access to abortion care; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully opposes efforts by the federal government to restrict 1[or limit]1 a woman's right and ability to access the full range of reproductive services, including abortion.
12. This House affirms our commitment to the protection of reproductive health care services, including abortion, in New Jersey, and will commit to ensure that access to this care does not depend on a person's income, zip code, or immigration status.1
1[2.] 3.1 This House respectfully opposes any 1future1 nominee to the United States Supreme Court 1or any other court1 who is not committed to upholding a woman's right to reproductive health care, including equitable access to abortion 1, and it respectfully calls upon the United States Congress to reject any future judicial nominees who would move to limit the rights of women1.
1[3. This House respectfully calls upon the Congress and President of the United States to reject or revoke the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh and any other Supreme Court nominee who would move to limit the rights of women to access the full panoply of reproductive services, including abortion.]1
4. This House further urges the Congress and President of the United States to remove 1[any existing restrictions on access to abortion, including]1 restrictions on insurance coverage for women who are enrolled in public insurance programs.
5. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.
