In response to the announcement of United Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy‘s imminent retirement, State Representative Aaron Regunberg (Democrat, District 4, Providence) called on the Rhode Island General Assembly to return immediately for an emergency session to pass the Reproductive Health Care Act (RHCA) (S2163/H7340).

“For two years, women across Rhode Island and advocates in the State House have been begging state leaders to take action regarding the imminent threat to Roe v Wade, and for years we have been dismissed. The establishment said everything will be fine – well, they were wrong, and today time has run out. With Justice Kennedy’s retirement, Republicans are already moving to strike down Roe v Wade as quickly as possible. We need to take emergency action to defend the right to choose in Rhode Island. That’s why I am calling on state and legislative leaders who have failed Rhode Island women for the last two years to immediately reconvene so we can take up the Reproductive Health Care Act and protect this critical right at the state level, no matter what happens in Washington.”