Pennsylvania is one of the worst states for pregnancy discrimination, in part because the Legislature has repeatedly blocked the Pennsylvania Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The Pennsylvania Legislature has also repeatedly blocked a bill to reduce infant mortality by clarifying workplace accommodations for nursing mothers. Pennsylvania’s unplanned pregnancy rate is higher than the national average. Almost one in five children live in poverty in Pennsylvania. Black women make up 11 percent of women in Pennsylvania, yet account for 31 percent of all pregnancy-related maternal deaths. The United States has the worst maternal mortality of any similarly situated country in the world.
Today, Representatives Stephanie Borowicz and Senator Doug Mastriano held a press conference to introduce House Bill 1977, an abortion restriction designed to force their constituents, and other Pennsylvanians with unwanted or unviable pregnancies, to carry those pregnancies to term at increased medical risk and against their will.
When a reporter noted to Borowicz that many women don’t even know they’re pregnant at six weeks, Borowicz indicated she understands this, then stated she herself didn’t discover she was pregnant until 8 weeks.
“Even the anti-abortion lawyers who write these boilerplate bills concede they’re blatantly unconstitutional,” says WLP Senior Staff Attorney Susan J. Frietsche. “If a six-week ban passed, Governor Wolf would veto it. If it somehow survives his veto, we would challenge it in court. It’s shocking how some lawmakers are willing to exploit the lives of their constituents to win some cheap political points with anti-abortion donors and lobbyists.”
Review the bill here.
This morning, Governor Wolf re-affirmed he would veto any abortion ban that comes to his desk.
The Women’s Law Project is a public interest law center devoted to defending and expanding the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQ people in Pennsylvania and beyond.
Sign up for WLP’s Action Alerts. Stay up to date on issues and policy by following us on twitter liking us on Facebook and following us on Instagram.
We are a non-profit organization. Please consider supporting equal rights for women and girls by making a one-time donation or scheduling a monthly contribution.
Tickets now available for our annual party in Philadelphia! Please join us on November 22.
