California Future of Abortion Council Leadership on Governor Newsom’s 2022 - 2023 Budget Proposal - Reproductive Freedom for All

Formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America

Press Release

California Future of Abortion Council Leadership on Governor Newsom’s 2022 – 2023 Budget Proposal

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Contact: [email protected]

CALIFORNIA—The California Future of Abortion Council (CA FAB Council) Steering Committee, comprised of ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, Black Women for Wellness Action Project, Essential Access Health, NARAL Pro-Choice California, National Health Law Program, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and Training in Early Abortion for Comprehensive Healthcare (TEACH), released the following joint statement in reaction to Governor Gavin Newsom’s Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget proposal.

Statement from CA FAB Council Steering Committee:

“The budget put forth by Governor Gavin Newsom shows California’s continued commitment to reproductive health, rights, freedom, and justice. The investments in clinical and workforce infrastructure are critical, and the continued investment in subsidies for ‘Covered California’ premiums for abortion care helps keep this essential health care affordableparticularly for people of color, people with lower incomes, and people living in more rural areas.”

“While there are other key programs and investments needed beyond what is in the proposal, it was encouraging to hear Governor Newsom say, ‘I can assure you a May budget will reflect even more support.’ We look forward to seeing even more progress be made in the May 2022 revised budget proposal.”

“In the meantime, we intend to work closely with Governor Newsom, legislative leaders, and other California policymakers to ensure California continues to protect and expand access to abortion amid increased efforts by other states to implement extreme and dangerous restrictions, regardless of what the U.S. Supreme Court may decide in the cases before them.”

“This year is perhaps the most consequential year for abortion rights since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. It is essential that California policymakers take significant action in order to ensure Californians and those forced to seek care here are impacted as little as possible when accessing an essential and timely service like abortion.”

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

  • On December 8, 2021, the CA FAB Council, a coalition of more than 40 organizations across California, released a comprehensive report highlighting 45 key policy recommendations state leaders and lawmakers can take to increase access to safe, equitable, and affordable abortion care. 
  • On December 21, 2021, the CA FAB Council Steering Committee sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom highlighting these critical recommendations from the report for his January budget proposal.
  • On January 5, 2022, the CA FAB Council Steering Committee sent an organized checklist of the 45 policy recommendations to Governor Gavin Newsom, administration leaders, legislative leaders, and others to be used as a guide throughout the 2022 legislative session. 
  • On January 6, 2022, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a legal alert stating California law does not criminalize pregnancy loss—a clarification asked for by the CA FAB Council.

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