Governor Whitmer Completes Signing of Reproductive Health Act

Monday marks a transformative day for reproductive rights in Michigan as Governor Gretchen Whitmer boldly signs the Reproductive Health Act (RHA), effectively dismantling the state’s long-standing ban on insurance coverage for abortion without an additional rider. This significant move, happening on the ten-year anniversary of her powerful floor speech as Minority Leader in the Michigan Senate, carries deep personal resonance for Governor Whitmer. In that speech, she bravely shared her own experience as a survivor of sexual assault, laying the groundwork for today’s groundbreaking achievement. Reflecting on the journey, Governor Whitmer expressed, “Ten years ago today, I was in the Michigan Senate, fighting against an unconscionable anti-choice bill that would have forced Michiganders to pay extra for insurance every month just in case they were raped or had an unwanted pregnancy. I shared my own story as a survivor of sexual assault and noted that any decision about a woman’s body ought to be hers alone. Exactly ten years later, I am proud to be repealing that same bill as governor.” The enactment of the RHA is a critical step forward, following the unsettling repeal of Roe v. Wade. It’s a testament to the state’s commitment to expanding reproductive freedom,...