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Reproductive Freedom
Hawkins Supports Women’s Health Care and Reproductive Freedom of Choice |
Women's rights must be protected and expanded to guarantee each woman's right as a full participant in society, free from sexual harassment, job discrimination or interference in the intensely personal choice about whether to have a child.
Hawkins supports the federal Freedom of Choice Act to guarantees access to reproductive health care services.
(See also section on Hawkins support for Health Care for All)
Such legislation is particularly needed in light of the attacks in several state legislatures on women's health by restricting access to birth control, medically accurate sex education, and abortion.
FOCA would prevent the federal and state governments from discriminating against a woman on the basis of reproductive health care decisions like having a child, using birth control, or having an abortion. The bill would forbid government interference in a woman's right to make private, personal family planning and reproductive health decisions.
FOCA would also invalidate harmful laws, such as the law recently passed in South Dakota to criminalize abortion. Similar legislation has been introduced in 11 other states. The South Dakota abortion ban violates the fundamental right to privacy and the right of women to make their own health care decisions. The law directly challenges Roe v. Wade
Hawkins supports the right of women to control their bodies. It is essential that the option of a safe, legal abortion remains available. The "morning-after" pill must be affordable and easily accessible without a prescription, together with a government-sponsored public relations campaign to educate women about this form of contraception. Clinics must be accessible and must offer advice on contraception and the means for contraception; consultation about abortion and the performance of abortions, and abortion regardless of age or marital status.
Hawkins fully supports a womens' right to use contraception and, when they choose, to have an abortion. This right cannot be limited to womens' age or marital status. Contraception and abortion must be included in all health insurance policies in the U.S., and any state government should be able to legally offer these services free of charge to women as part of the Medicaid program. (Should of course also be part of a national universal health care program.)
Public health agencies operating abroad should be allowed to offer family planning, contraception and abortion in all countries that ask for those services. Hawkins opposes our government's habit of cutting family planning funds when those funds go to agencies in foreign countries that give out contraceptive devices, offer advice on abortion, and perform abortions.
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 *Website by David Doonan, Labor Donated to Hawkins for Senate Campaign* |
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