From a press release:

The Portsmouth Democratic Town Committee, at their monthly meeting on January 3, 2019, passed a resolution supporting the Rhode Island House and Senate “Reproductive Health Care Act,” (RHCA) bills, which prohibit the state from interfering in a woman’s reproductive decision-making.

“The Town Committee joins the majority of Rhode Islanders who believe that the time has come to pass legislation clearly and unambiguously protecting reproductive rights in our state,” said Portsmouth Democratic Town Committee Chair Len Katzman.

The resolution notes that recent polling shows that Rhode Islanders overwhelmingly support keeping abortion safe and legal, and notes the threat posed by the shift in the makeup of the United States Supreme Court to Roe v Wade, the 40-year-old decision protecting access to abortion.

The resolution explains that the RHCA, virtually identical to the bill from the 2018 session, places the main principle of Roe v Wade into Rhode Island law, while repealing outmoded state laws barring abortion.

The Town Committee’s resolution urges all members of the General Assembly to support the Reproductive Health Care Act, and calls on the Democratic majority in particular to take action.

“The state Party platform says that Democrats stand behind the right of every woman to choose,” said Katzman. “We call on all Democratic representatives and senators to support RHCA, press leadership to allow the bills out of committee this session, and cast votes supporting women’s rights on the floor.”

“The time is now,” said Katzman. “When rights are at risk, our legislators must stand up for Democratic principles.”