The Quickie: "For Georgia" Planned Parenthood Votes Launches New Presidential Ad

Welcome to “The Quickie” — Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s daily tipsheet on the top health care & reproductive rights stories of the day. You can read “The Quickie'' online here.

In today’s Quickie: A PP Votes spotlight, ND abortion ban struck down, House repro champs still fighting for care, and PPPSW reopens health center.

“FOR GEORGIA” PLANNED PARENTHOOD VOTES LAUNCHES NEW PRESIDENTIAL AD: Yesterday, Planned Parenthood Votes launched two radio ads in Georgia ahead of the presidential election, drawing contrasts between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris and their records on reproductive rights. The ads target Black voters, who are a crucial constituency that will decide the election as they make up a large share of the electorate in Georgia. Black Georgians have also been disproportionately affected by the state’s near-total abortion ban.

Kaylah Oates-Marable, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Votes in Georgia, explained, “This election, Georgians have an incredibly important role to play in deciding who the next president will be: Donald Trump, who paved the way for Georgia's abortion ban, or Kamala Harris, who has put reproductive freedom at the center of her campaign…Georgians have long been suffering under the state’s near-total ban and they deserve leaders who understand that politicians have no place in our personal medical decisions. Make no mistake: the only way to protect our freedoms and restore the right to abortion in Georgia is by electing Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz this November.”

Listen to the ad here and read more here.

NORTH DAKOTA ABORTION BAN STRUCK DOWN: Yesterday, a North Dakota judge struck down the state's near-total abortion ban, saying it is in violation of the North Dakota Constitution. Last year the North Dakota Supreme Court had also blocked the state’s trigger abortion ban from taking effect, citing the fundamental right to life-saving abortions. There are no Planned Parenthood health centers in North Dakota.

Statement from Katie Christensen, North Dakota State Director, External Affairs for Planned Parenthood North Dakota Action Fund:

“Today, we’re celebrating for North Dakotans, who deserve to make decisions about their own bodies and futures. We’re cheering for doctors who have trained for years to provide the best quality care and should be able to do so without fear from politicians. The freedom to make personal, private medical decisions is necessary to have the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and happiness. Abortion is a personal decision that should stay between a patient and their provider, not the government.”

Read more from KELO.

REPRO CHAMPS IN THE HOUSE ARE STILL FIGHTING TO PROTECT ACCESS TO EMERGENCY ABORTION CARE:  Remember when the Supreme Court kicked off summer by deciding not to make a decision on whether or not states need to provide emergency abortion care? It’s okay – we know a lot has happened this summer. So here is a quick refresher. 

The law in question, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), has long been understood to protect emergency abortion care when it is the necessary treatment for a pregnant person experiencing a medical emergency. But the Supreme Court’s decision kicked the can down the road and left emergency care for pregnant people still under threat

This week, reproductive rights champions Reps. Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) introduced a House resolution to reaffirm that every person has the right to emergency health care, including abortion care. 

The long-standing federal law requires hospital emergency rooms that receive Medicare funding to provide emergency care to all patients. We know that this fight isn’t over and we’ll continue to do everything in our power to make sure the EMTALA protections for abortion are here to stay. 

Read the resolution here. 

EL CENTRO HEALTH CENTER REOPENS IN CRITICAL ABORTION ACCESS POINT: On, September 9, 2024, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest (PPPSW) reopened the Imperial Valley Homan Health Center – one year after a major fire destroyed Planned Parenthood’s only health center in the region. The health center is at a critical access point and prior to the fire was often inundated with patients from out-of-state.

Statement from Darrah DiGiorgio Johnson, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest:

“Our newly rebuilt health center is equipped with important updates that will reinforce patient and staff safety, while offering a welcoming, patient-centered environment. We are committed to providing comprehensive reproductive health care services and education, including birth control, abortion, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, and more to residents of Imperial County and surrounding communities.”

Read more here