Senator Hirono Introduces Resolution to Honor Abortion Providers

Press Release

Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), and colleagues introduced the first congressional resolution to honor abortion providers and clinic staff. In addition to Sen. Hirono and Rep. Levin, Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), and Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Barbara Lee (CA-13); Reps. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07); Cori Bush (MO-01) and Nikema Williams (GA-05) joined the members in introducing the Abortion Provider Appreciation Day resolution. In a press conference today, Senator Hirono and the members spoke about the essential and valued role that health care providers play in providing safe access to reproductive care, including abortions. They also emphasized the importance of protecting and advancing reproductive freedoms.

"Women across the country are under attack--but so too are the health care professionals who provide safe and legal abortions. Across the country, abortion providers experience intimidation, harassment, threats, and violence from anti-abortion extremists. These doctors, nurses, and staff fear for their lives just to provide access to reproductive care," said Senator Mazie Hirono. "I'm proud to introduce this resolution with my colleagues to honor all health care providers who keep patients safe and healthy--and do their part to help provide access to reproductive care, including abortions."

The resolution was inspired by Dr. David Gunn, who was killed outside his abortion clinic in Pensacola, Florida by a white supremacist, antiabortion extremist, in the first known instance of the murder of an abortion provider. To honor his legacy, Abortion Provider Appreciation Day was established on March 10, 1996, as a day to show appreciation for the essential, high-quality care that abortion providers and clinic staff provide to their communities and to celebrate their courage and dedication. With the proliferation of harmful abortion bans and restrictions across the country, abortion providers are rendered more vulnerable to harassment and violence. This resolution affirms that abortion providers are valued as they provide care despite pressures, restrictions, political interference and threats to their personal safety.

You can watch the press conference with David Gunn, Jr. and Wendy Gunn, son and daughter of Dr. David Gunn, and Senator Hirono, Representative Levin (MI-09), Representative Lee (CA-13), and Representative Williams (GA-05) here.

The Abortion Provider Appreciation Day resolution demonstrates a commitment to abortion providers and staff by:

Extending Congressional recognition of Abortion Provider Appreciation Day;
Lauding the communities across the country who proudly support their abortion providers and clinic staff;
Affirming Congress' commitment to ensuring the safety of abortion providers and their ability to continue providing the essential care their patients need; and
Declaring a vision for a future where access to abortion is liberated from restrictions and bans universally.
Link to the resolution's full bill text can be found here. A one-pager can be found here.

The Abortion Provider Appreciation Day resolution is endorsed by: 2+ Abortions Worldwide; Access Reproductive Care-Southeast; Advocates for Youth; All* Above All Action Fund; American Medical Student Association; Amplify Georgia Collaborative; A Woman's Choice of Charlotte, Greensboro, Jacksonville and Raleigh Chapters; Abortion Access Front; Black Women's Health Imperative; Catholics for Choice; Center for Reproductive Rights; Chicago Abortion Fund; Cobalt; EMAA Project; Feminist Women's Health Center; Florida Access Network; Freedom From Religion Foundation; Frontera Fund; Global Justice Center; Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights (GRR!); Gynuity Health Projects; Ibis Reproductive Health; Ipas; Jane's Due Process; Lilith Fund; Louisiana Coalition for Reproductive Freedom; Men4Choice Advocacy; Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN); Michigan Voices; NARAL Pro-Choice America; National Abortion Federation; National Birth Equity Collaborative; National Council of Jewish Women; National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association; National Institute for Reproductive Health; National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice; National Organization for Women; National Women's Law Center; Nebraska Abortion Resources (NEAR); Physicians for Reproductive Health; Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood of Michigan, Population Institute; Positive Women's Network USA; Power to Decide; Pro-Choice Connecticut, North Carolina, Missouri, Oregon, Wyoming; ProgressNow New Mexico; Reclaim; Reproductive Health Access Project; Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine; Tampa Bay Abortion Fund; Tampa Bay Access Force; Texas Equal Access Fund, UCSF Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health; URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity; United State of Women; We Testify; Whole Woman's Health Alliance; Women's Health Center of West Virginia; Women's Medical Fund Inc.; Women of Reform Judaism

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