Reproductive Justice

As a former Planned Parenthood California Central Coast Board Member, I am a staunch supporter of expanding women's access to health care and defending reproductive justice and the right to choose.

And I know that, in the face of the erosion of decades of legal protection provided by Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, more must be done to codify a woman’s Constitutional right to choose into law.

That’s why I am a co-sponsor and leading advocate for the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would explicitly protect the right to an abortion nationwide. This measure passed the House with my help in September 2021.

On the House Armed Services Committee, I have introduced legislation to expand TRICARE services for our military members to provide no-cost contraceptive services, allow gestational diabetes screening without copayment and waive statutorily imposed pharmacy costs for preventive services.

All who want and need them must be able to access safe, affordable reproductive services. I am proud to cosponsor bills to repeal the damaging Hyde Amendment and ensure all women can access abortion care; affirm that reproductive justice is a human rights issue and direct the State Department to restore the practice of assessing reproductive rights in reports; helping to appropriate $286 million for Title X family planning and $108 million for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program; and much more. 

Every day, we face blatant attacks on reproductive health. From President Trump’s anti-choice Supreme Court justices and draconian new state laws in places like Texas and Florida, to global and domestic gag rules to attempts at banning abortion, stripping health center resources and limiting available contraception—we have much to protect and much to improve.

As your member of Congress, I will never sit silently when reproductive justice is on the line. I will always stand up for reproductive rights because they are human rights.