Hirono Convenes Reproductive Rights Working Group for Follow Up Conversation Following Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe

HONOLULU, HI – Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) convened a working group of local reproductive leaders and health care experts to discuss reproductive freedom in Hawaii and across the country. The conversation was a follow-up to a roundtable Senator Hirono previously hosted at the beginning of July shortly after the far-right majority on the Supreme Court issued its disastrous Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Attendees included representatives from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Hawaii Center for Nursing, Papa Ola Lokahi, Planned Parenthood Regional Office, and Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, as well as State Representatives and other women’s advocates. 

“Today I convened a second roundtable conversation to hear from leaders in government and health care across Hawaii about the state of abortion access and what more we can do to protect reproductive freedom in our state,” said Senator Hirono. “There is a lot of fear and confusion as a result of the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision, which is why it is so important that we make sure people know abortion remains legal in Hawaii. We are staying in touch with each other to make sure women in Hawaii have the information and resources they need, while working to expand access to abortion services.”  

A long-time champion for abortion access, Senator Hirono is committed to protecting the fundamental right to abortion care for all. Earlier this month, Senator Hirono introduced the Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act to protect doctors against Republicans’ non-stop attacks and ensure they can safely provide abortion care in states where it is still legal. She also led a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services urging them to make medication abortion more easily accessible. In July, she introduced the Right to Contraception Act, as well as the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act, to protect access to critical reproductive health care services, like birth control, and cancer screenings. Senator Hirono also introduced the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2022, which clarifies that it is illegal for anti-choice states to limit travel for abortion services, and would empower impacted individuals to bring civil action against those who restrict a woman’s right to cross state lines to receive legal reproductive care. 

Video of Senator Hirono discussing the roundtable is available here

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