Chicago City Council Referred to the Committee on Health and Human Relations
April 27, 2022
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY'S COMMITTMENT TO THE PROTECTION AND
EXPANSION OF ABORTION RIGHTS FOR ALL CHICAGOANS AND OUT OF STATE VISITORS SEEKING SAFE AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO LOST ABORTION SERVICES
WHEREAS, In 1973, the historical ruling in Roe v. Wade established the nation's right to abortion when the U.S. Supreme Court held the fundamental value of reproductive autonomy and health care access was constitutionally protected as a matter of privacy guaranteed by the Due Process clause of the 14th Amendment; and
WHEREAS, Nearly five decades following Roe, opponents continue to increasingly challenge the legality of abortion rights, and as of 2021, in an alarming manner; and
WHEREAS, However, until recently, no opponent has threatened to entirely dismantle the nation's reproductive protections by calling for states to exclusively hold abortion power; and
WHEREAS, A majority of the U.S. Supreme Court Justices have declined to interfere with the Texas law banning abortions after six weeks, the Justices have signaled readiness to revisit the legality of abortion by agreeing to rule on the 15-week abortion ban in Mississippi that explicitly calls for Roe to be overturned; and
WHEREAS, If overturned, abortion will be—illegal or extremely limited-in more than 20 states; and particularly harmful within marginalized communities already vulnerable to discrimination due to poverty, race, gender identity, disability and/or intersections thereof; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, individuals especially facing poverty and/or limited logistical opportunities will also endure the burden related to traveling out of state for an abortion, thus, likely find themselves targeted for further suffering, instead of protected; and
WHEREAS, States across the nation are currently preparing to provide abortion access to out of state visitors who have lost such protections; specifically, Planned Parenthood of Illinois is preparing for a 30% jump in new patients at their 17 health centers; and
WHEREAS, According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, even if the U.S. Supreme Court overules Roe, abortion will remain legal in Illinois because in 2019, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the right to abortion within their state constitution-thus, separate and apart from the existence of any federal constitutional right; and
WHEREAS, Notably, individuals within Illinois have a fundamental right to make decisions about their reproductive health care regardless of gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, sexual behavior, class, immigration status, race, ethnicity, language ability, disability status, or age (with some restrictions for persons under 18), and even if they are in State custody, control or supervision including in jail, prison or under DCFS custody; and
WHEREAS, the City must protect the fundamental values of reproductive autonomy and health care access by combating the attack to such constitutionally protected rights; and
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled on this 27th day of April 2022, do hereby call on the City to continue to support its commitment to the protection and expansion of abortion rights in effort to ensure that
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Chicago City Council Referred to the Committee on Health and Human Relations
April 27, 2022
both-Chicagoans and those visiting the City who have lost reproductive freedoms-have access to safe and equitable abortions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The City additionally commits to working in partnership with local and state officials to strengthen and expand abortion rights, and directly oppose any initiatives or legislation that seeks to threaten or limit current standards for reproductive autonomy, health care access, and equitable and safe abortion services.
GILBERT VILLEGAS
36th Ward Alderman Principal Sponsor
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