AURORA, Ill. – Governor JB Pritzker says the state of Illinois is a “champion of women’s reproductive health” — which is why he says a law was passed two years ago that protects the reproductive rights of women.
Pritzker says that’s apparently unlike the one in Texas that bans abortions and allows for lawsuits against the people who take women to abortion clinics.
“The dystopian reality that we feared in 2019 is closer to reality today, as radical Republican legislators across the country seek to functionally eradicate their constituents’ autonomy,” said Pritzker, during a news conference Tuesday in Aurora.
So he and other leaders are encouraging federal lawmakers to pass pro-choice legislation.
Planned Parenthood of Illinois CEO Jennifer Welch says she expects a snowball effect now that the Texas is in effect.
“It decreases access to other essential and life-saving care, such as cancer screenings, [Sexually-Transmitted Infection] testing and treatment, gender-affirming hormone therapy, and other essential reproductive and sexual healthcare,” said Welch.
Welch says Texas patients have already shown up in Illinois, and she expects that to increase as more states enact such laws.
Members of the Illinois Congressional delegation say they expect a House vote on the matter next week.
