Resolution Calling on Congress to Affirm Reproductive Freedom and Pass the Women's Health Protections Act. On motion of Councilor Mejia, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
Docket 1007 Councilors. Councilor may offer the following resolution calling on Congress to form of I'm sorry affirm reproductive freedom and pass the Women's Health Protection Act. Thank you. Excuse me. Thank you. The chair now recognizes the at large council from Dorchester Councilor Julie Amihere. The floor is yours. Season Ticket 1007. OC. Grandma I doing here today. Okay. So thank you, Mr. President. On the first of two December of this year, a bill was sponsored by the Texas state legislator titled SB eight took into effect. This bill restricts any and all abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which may be as early as six weeks before most people even know that they are pregnant. This bill also states that anyone who is known to assist in an abortion, which may even include an Uber driver taking someone to a clinic will be fined $10,000 despite the 1973. Well, Roe versus Wade decision, essentially setting the questions of access to health and to abortion care. Challenges to the Supreme Court decision have been popping up across the country with the most recent anti abortion action in Texas. The Supreme Court refused to strike down the bill, allowing it to go into effect. This bill is already having devastating effects on people across the state, particularly people of color, low income individuals and trans non by binary people who all need access to abortion care. Because let's be clear, abortion will always be legal for people who can afford to travel out of the state or simply pay the $10,000 fine. But for the rest of us, people who are left without options and in the face of a newer and more restrictive abortion access law , Congress has the opportunity and the obligation to protect the abortion care. That is why our congresswoman and colleague Ayanna Pressley filed the Woman's Health Protection Act, which would fight back against these attacks on abortion access and codify the right for doctors to provide abortion care free from unnecessary bans and restrictions. This bill needs our support not only because we need to send a message to cities and states across the country that we stand for a person's right to choose, but that we also. But but because we because also there are still deep inequities in accessing abortion care in Massachusetts that need to be addressed. I want to conclude on a final note. This bill is called the Woman's Health Protection Act. But it is important to remember that not just women access abortion care, trans men and gender non-conforming, non-binding individuals who also rely on access to this level of care. And we need to make space for them as well. This is this is what all means, all looks like. And this is why we are and this is why we were intentional about removing any gendered language from this resolution. It's important that we center everyone in this space. I move that we suspend the rules and pass this resolution. Thank you. Thank you. Counsel me here. Anyone else wishing to speak on docket zero 1007, but any councilors wish to add their name. Madam Clerk, please add. Councilor Arroyo. Councilor Baker. Councilor. Councilor Braden. Councilor Campbell. Councilor Edwards. Councilor Savage. George. Councilor Flaherty. Is that the Chair? Councilor Flynn, Councilor Wu and Councilor Julian here seeking suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 1007. All those in favor please indicate by saying I oppose nay. The ayes have it. The docket has passed. That is all for, uh, what is before us on today's agenda. We do have one late files who are moving on to the late files. This is a one late file matter. It's a hearing order sponsored by Councilor Olivia Edwards. All those in favor of adding this late file matter to the agenda. Please indicate by saying I. I oppose name. Thank you. The late file matter has been added to the agenda and is before us. Madam Clerk, would you please read the first and last paragraph of the file and place it before us?