Massachusetts Senators Vow to Protect Reproductive Rights

BOSTON — Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka, Health Care Financing Senate Chair Cindy Friedman, and Public Health Senate Chair Joanne Comerford released statements regarding how Bay State lawmakers plan to respond to the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.

“Like so many residents in Massachusetts, I am still shocked and saddened by the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that overturned the right to privacy guaranteed in Roe v. Wade.,” Spilka said. “But these same residents have called on the Massachusetts Senate to fight for our rights and protect both individuals and providers, and the Senate has not hesitated to act quickly.

“On May 27, 2022, the Senate passed a provision in our budget which would codify protections for receiving and providing reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare in Massachusetts. We were able to move quickly in response to the leaked draft of the Dobbs decision because we had contemplated the legal questions involved and were prepared.

“As we stand ready to advance another bill that would codify protections for receiving and providing reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare in the Senate today, we are mindful of the need to act in such a way that will allow us to get these protections signed into law before the end of this legislative session.

“The red flags raised by Justice Clarence Thomas’s opinion in the Dobbs case, however, and the larger issue of defending Massachusetts residents’ rights deserve our continued attention,” Spilka went on, announcing that the Senate will convene a working group, led by Friedman and Comerford, to dig deeper into the rights under threat by SCOTUS, as well as explore issues regarding data collection and privacy. All senators will be invited to contribute their efforts to this working group.

“Being prepared allowed us to work quickly in the wake of the Dobbs decision,” Spilka added. “We must continue to be prepared as we face an uncertain legal future, so that we can act thoughtfully and comprehensively to defend the rights of our residents.”

Friedman noted that “it is clear that the attack on the rights of women and those who can get pregnant to control their own bodies is part of a larger agenda that threatens us all. It is imperative that we be proactive in defending against this assault on our residents and ensuring that Massachusetts remains a safe and accepting place. I am honored to be part of this working group and am grateful for Senate President Spilka’s commitment, through action, to continue to protect the people of the Commonwealth.”

Comerford added that “access to safe, legal, affordable reproductive healthcare is a public-health necessity. With the onset of this working group, the Senate redoubles our commitment to the full spectrum of reproductive health-equity issues. With Congress deadlocked and a hostile Supreme Court, states must step up. Massachusetts can lead the way to defend and expand reproductive rights for our constituents and for those coming to the Commonwealth seeking care.”