HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2023-040-Resolution in Support of Safe and Legal Reproductive Healthcare RES -2023 - 040
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RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SAFE AND LEGAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE
WHEREAS , access to a full range of reproductive care options , including safe and legal abortion , is a
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fundamental human right , and
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WHEREAS , following the U . S . Supreme Court' s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v.
Jackson Women 's Health Organization case , both houses of the North Carolina General Assembly
passed SB20 on a party line vote to severely limit the rights of women , specifically their bodily autonomy ,
by reducing legally allowed abortions from twenty (20 ) weeks to twelve ( 12 ) weeks and reducing access
to medication abortion to ten ( 10 ) weeks ; and
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WHEREAS , SB20 also imposes new barriers to the provision of care that are not medically necessary ,
such as additional in - person appointments and new clinic requirements , and
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WHEREAS , creating barriers to reproductive healthcare , including abortions , will make it harder for the ..
most vulnerable to access healthcare , which medical professionals say will lead to preventable deaths ;
and
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WHEREAS , despite the fact that the majority of North Carolinians support access to safe , legal abortion
and despite the legislature ' s own bill filing rules , SB20 was released with little notice and no transparency ,
as GOP legislative leadership crafted this harmful bill behind closed doors with no opportunity for public
comment ; and
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WHEREAS , Orange County has a history of supporting full access to safe and legal reproductive health
care , including abortion , for our residents and County employees and rejects in the strongest of terms
SB20 and other laws aimed at limiting or denying access to abortion care .
NOW THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners supports the
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right for all to access the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare , including abortion care , and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , the Board of Commissioners commends Senator Graig Meyer and
Representatives Allen Buansi and Renee Price for their votes against SB20 ; supports Governor Roy
Cooper' s decision to veto SB20 ; and encourages members of the General Assembly to uphold his veto I '
when a vote to override occurs , and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , the Board urges our elected officials at the North Carolina General
Assembly to prioritize the healthcare needs of residents , to reject further attempts to limit abortion , and to
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increase investment in access to health care , affordable birth control including emergency contraception ,
and comprehensive age-appropriate sex education , and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , the Board urges residents to speak out against these egregious attacks
on bodily autonomy and make their views known to members of the North Carolina General Assembly .
This the 16th Day of May , 2023 .
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idmeza& Bedford , C146ir
17 Orange County Board of Commissioners