Nebraskans Urge State Lawmakers Against Abortion Ban Bills

OMAHA, NEBRASKA— Nebraskans testifying against proposed abortion bans today urged state lawmakers to protect their right to make private reproductive health care decisions and, instead, expand access to care. Politicians who want to ban abortion have introduced three abortion bans with the potential to eliminate safe and legal abortion in Nebraska, while pro-sexual and reproductive health care legislators have proposed three bills that would make contraception easier to access, allow insurance to cover abortion and expand the medical professionals able to provide abortions.

Statement from Andi Curry Grubb, Nebraska Executive Director of Planned Parenthood North Central States:

“Today, after decades of providing care to hundreds of thousands of patients, we are at risk of being forced to withhold care from the people who rely on us. There are decades of research that show the benefits of people having unfettered access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care—including abortion. We, unfortunately, already have the example of Texas to begin understanding the impacts of banning abortion. Most of us have never lived in a world without safe and legal abortion and so it’s challenging to imagine what that looks like. But we must, the health and vitality of our state and its residents rely on it.”

Statement from Dr. Deborah Turner, Associate Medical Director of Planned Parenthood North Central States:

“While every patient I have seen throughout my long career is unique, what they need from me is not—compassion, information, and medical expertise. This gives them the ability to make treatment decisions that are best for them and their families. Abortion bans would prevent me from offering this compassion and expertise to my patients. These bills undermine science, violate medical ethics, and deny patients’ the freedom to control their own lives. An abortion ban would threaten the health and safety of Nebraskans.”

###

Planned Parenthood North Central States and its subsidiary organizations provide, promote, and protect reproductive and sexual health through high quality care, education and advocacy. A member of America’s most trusted reproductive health care provider, our affiliate is proud to support and operate 30 health centers across our five-state region (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota). Each year, we provide health care to nearly 115,000 people and health education to more than 55,000 people in our region.