WHEREAS, The Trump Administration has actively worked to eliminate reproductive healthcare rights and pursued one of the most anti-public health agendas in the history of the United States. Anti-choice policymakers are systematically undermining people’s ability to access healthcare services and particularly reproductive healthcare; and
WHEREAS, The Reproductive Freedom Task Force, chaired by Minority Leader Kendra Brooks, was launched to build on Philadelphia’s efforts to safeguard and protect reproductive rights. The Task Force is composed of providers, advocates, administrators, and policy experts. It has met quarterly to advocate ways the City can continue to lead in this area; and
WHEREAS, As documented by the Reproductive Freedom Task Force, members face closures driven by massive Medicaid cuts and hostile legislation; medical workers and patients face threats and violent attacks, and as thousands of Philadelphians are turned away from healthcare due to funding cuts; and
WHEREAS, Amidst the federal funding cuts, the City of Philadelphia declined to fund reproductive healthcare initiatives during the most recent budget cycle, for the first time in years; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia must do more to maintain, protect, and expand access to life-saving care; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby authorizes the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold a hearing on the Federal attacks and local challenges facing reproductive healthcare in the City of Philadelphia.
End