FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 20, 2023
CARSON CITY, NV – This morning, the Nevada Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor heard testimony on Senate Bill 131, introduced by Senate Majority Nicole Cannizzaro, that seeks to protect both abortion providers in Nevada, and out-of-state patients seeking an abortion, from prosecution by other states with restrictive bans or regulations on abortion.
“Nevadans support the right to abortion and Nevada voters proved this fact once again in the 2022 midterm election,” said Annette Magnus, Executive Director of Battle Born Progress. “This morning’s hearing proved why we need legal protection for patients and providers in Nevada. Those who oppose the right to an abortion will stop at nothing to attack this right and we saw that today with the opposition’s constant attempts at disinformation and twisting SB131 into something it is not.
The day Roe v. Wade was overturned was a wake-up call for many that our rights and freedoms are under attack. Luckily, at the time, we had a Governor who took action, issuing an executive order to protect abortion providers and out-of-state patients from legal harassment by other neighboring states, who jumped at the chance to outlaw or restrict access to abortion.
Here in Nevada, we actually value the freedom to make reproductive decisions, and we should be proud of that fact because that is the Nevada way. With a new administration, Nevadans, and those seeking abortion from other states, deserve concrete legal reassurance that our state will not aid other state governments in prosecuting anyone under their cruel and restrictive abortion bans.
We sincerely thank Senate Majority Leader Cannizzaro for bringing forward this bill, and we were proud to testify in support of it this morning. We will hold Governor Lombardo accountable for signing this into law, as he said he would in a recent interview with KNPR and as he did before during one of his televised debates. However, we also recognize that improving access to abortion, with or without this bill, still remains an urgent need in Nevada. We urge Nevada’s legislators to see that Roe is the floor, and not the ceiling, and continue to enact policies that will protect patients and fill critical gaps in providing abortion care to residents and non-residents alike.”
SPOKESPEOPLE ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH
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About Battle Born Progress: Battle Born Progress, through strategic communication efforts, empowers, engages and mobilizes Nevada voters to build a state where everyone has a fair opportunity to succeed. We support, engage, and mobilize the progressive community through bold leadership, strategic communications, accountability, and education. We are on the cutting edge of new media and are the go-to source for progressive issues and advocacy for traditional media. Learn more at https://battlebornprogress.org/.
