Columbus — Last week, the Ohio Senate unanimously voted in favor of Senate Resolution 41, urging Congress to pass a federal bill which would interfere with evidence-based patient care and medical practice. The federal bill, S. 311, is yet another attempt to curtail access to safe, legal abortion care and improperly insert politics into the relationship between patients and their health care providers. Both the federal bill and the Ohio resolution are part of an orchestrated campaign by anti-choice leaders—ranging from President Trump to members of the Ohio Legislature — which uses inflammatory language to demonize abortion providers, patients, and their supporters. In the past, similar rhetoric has incited violence.
NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland said, “Last week, every member of the Ohio Senate voted in favor of a resolution supporting federal legislation designed to mislead and deceive the public with outrageous accusations, to interfere with medical care, and to intimidate doctors with threats of criminal penalties. Sadly we have come to expect that from the majority of Republicans in the Senate. But with abortion access under attack like never before, it was alarming to lose the support and fidelity of members of the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus—many of whom have been previously endorsed by our organization.”
Copeland continued, “As anti-choice forces edge ever closer to their goal to criminalize abortion, jail health care providers, and shut down clinics, it is imperative that we not waiver. Abortion providers and their patients need and deserve our unflinching support. We strongly urge the members of the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus to condemn S. 311 as the threat to patient and provider safety that it is.”
More than two dozen national organizations have formally expressed their opposition to S. 311, you can view their letter here.
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