Mayes votes to protect abortion access in PA
Abortion remains safe, legal in PA
Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes November 17, 2023
HARRISBURG, Nov. 17 – Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, recently voted to pass legislation introduced by Reps. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery, and Melissa Shusterman, D-Chester, to protect access to abortions in Pennsylvania.
The bill would prohibit other states from using the resources of Pennsylvania’s courts, law enforcement, and the Office of the Governor to assist in civil and criminal actions from other states involving reproductive health care, such as an abortion.
“As an advocate for reproductive health, rights and justice, I voted to pass H.B. 1786 to ensure Pennsylvanians’ rights to make decisions about their own bodies,” Mayes said. “This bill would allow Pennsylvanians and residents in neighboring states to safely access reproductive health care, including abortions, in Pennsylvania, without fear of retribution.”
Criminalizing reproductive health care disproportionately affects Black people and people of color, she noted.
“After the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in 2022, reproductive health care providers experienced an increase in patients from neighboring states, such as Ohio and West Virginia. This legislation would protect patients’ fundamental right to access health care, but also the medical personnel working to provide reproductive health care to patients.”
The bill passed the House of Representatives 117-86. It now awaits a Senate vote.