It has been a busy 6 months in the reproductive justice movement in New Jersey and in the nation. The situation with the continued restrictions on abortion access in the country has impacted a change both in the task force and in our coalition work in NJ. There is a strong focus on improving the situation with abortion access, including access to full reproductive health care due to the Title X restrictions.
The following four core issues identified at Issues Conference (10/20/18) are below with updates:
1. Access to reproductive health care, including abortion, in NJ and the nation. The task force members have monitored this disturbing trend carefully. In NJ, there is work being done to decide next steps. Currently NJ allows abortion through 24 weeks although it is not codified into our laws. In the fall of 2018, both the NJ Senate and Assembly passed a resolution memorializing Congress and the President of the United States to take certain actions to ensure that women can freely make reproductive health decisions and access reproductive health care, including abortion. This is considered to be the first step toward strengthening laws so that access to full reproductive health care is assured. At the same time, we are watching the proposed changes to Title X, the funding mechanism for family planning clinics. The proposed “Gag Rule” would make it impossible for medical staff to give patients the full range of reproductive options. It would eliminate federal funding in NJ. The only funding would then be what the state gives the clinics.
2. Maternal Health and Mortality – NJ ranks 47th out of 50 in maternal mortality. The task force has been tracking bills in both the Assembly and Senate that would increase Medicaid coverage for postpartum people and to limit C-sections. They are in committees. The bill to establish a Maternal Mortality Review Commission has passed both houses and is waiting for the Governor’s signature. Due to the dismal ranking in NJ, there is heightened interest in moving the bills along.
3. Incarcerated women – focusing on their reproductive health and on sexual assault allegations in Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women and county prisons.
The task force is also tracking bills. Currently they are in committee and have not been passed. We are in contact with people from American Field Service who are strong advocates for prison reform.
4. Legal Advocacy – Our signature bill, (A-1861/ S- 1651) Address Confidentiality bill for clinic employees, volunteers and clients has been making its way through the legislature. The bill has passed the Senate. When it went to the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee, it was merged with an address confidentiality bill for victims of sexual assault and stalking. It was voted out of that committee and is now in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. There is currently no date for it to be heard. We are hoping to have this passed and signed by the end of the legislative session.
Coalition and Advocacy work
- There has been a major change in coalition work in NJ. The My Health My Life Coalition has joined with the new Thrive NJ. Together the group is expanding its work and increasing its membership. One of the major initiatives, which was attended by our executive director and task force chair, was a training for legislators in Trenton about reproductive justice. One task force member has joined the sexual education subcommittee and another has joined the abortion access subcommittee.
- The task force has supported and co-sponsored the following events: a Roe event sponsored by National Council of Jewish Women, Essex Section (NCJW Essex), Carpool Conversations, NCJW Essex.
- The task force chair is an active member of the Crisis Pregnancy Center (CPC) Task Force. The executive director and chair participated in a round table to share the current situation and decide next steps. There will be a marketing/educational campaign initiated soon.
- As part of the Time is Now Coalition, we have followed legislation to extend the statute of limitations for civil cases involving sexual assault – S477 / A3648. It is now on the Governor’s desk.
The task force is considering working on a program that could include other congregations. One of the initiatives in the abortion care movement is to give people who have had abortions a platform to speak about their experiences without shame in environments that are safe. We will be exploring this possibility at Plenary with a UU from Ridgewood who is very knowledgeable about this topic. Please join us for this. If you are interested in joining the task force, we meet on a Zoom call on the 4th Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. We would love to have you or other people in your congregation involved in our work.
Carol A. Loscalzo, Reproductive Justice Task Force chair April 13, 2019