Dear Friends,
Today marks two years since the devastating Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion that people have exercised and relied on for nearly 50 years. This decision returned the power to restrict or ban abortion to individual states, creating unequal access to abortion care across the country, putting lives at risk, and denying reproductive freedom to millions of people. In the aftermath, Texas and many other states moved swiftly to enact severe restrictions or outright bans, leaving millions without access to safe and legal abortion care.
The impact of this decision has been profound and far-reaching. In Texas, abortion is now banned with no exceptions for sexual assault or incest, and severe criminal and civil penalties are imposed on providers and those who assist in accessing abortion care. In 2023 alone, 35,500 Texans had to travel outside of the state to access an abortion. This ban disproportionately harms Black, Latine, Indigenous, and other communities of color who already face systemic barriers to healthcare and economic opportunities. The fight for reproductive justice is intrinsically linked to the broader fight for racial, economic, and social justice.
Abortion is a fundamental right. Everyone deserves access to reproductive healthcare and the autonomy to make decisions about their own body, health, and future. Forced pregnancy and birth are not only dehumanizing but also pose significant risks to health and safety, particularly in a state like Texas, with limited access to healthcare and high maternal mortality rates. Yet access to even the most basic and essential healthcare – like the mifepristone medication prescribed for abortions and miscarriages – is under steady attack nationwide.
That’s why Harris County is taking bold action to defend against the attacks on reproductive care and safeguard the health and freedom of those we serve.
Our Reproductive Health Access Fund increases access to contraception and reproductive healthcare in underserved communities that are most affected by these restrictive laws. It provides funding to existing under-resourced health clinics to increase capacity for reproductive healthcare services and care, especially for the over 20% of uninsured residents of Harris County. It also provides funding for grassroots organizations to educate, promote, and connect people to reproductive healthcare services within their community. Harris County has granted over $3.8 million to ten community-based organizations to increase access to these critical reproductive services.
Sincerely,
Rodney Ellis