San Mateo County will offer "unwavering support" for women's reproductive decisions, thanks to two county supervisors filing a resolution Friday pledging support for women's freedom to make their own reproductive decisions.
The resolution by Supervisors Dave Pine and Warren Slocum, to provide "unwavering support" for women's reproductive decisions, directs county staff to develop an action plan to implement the pledge within four weeks.
"We cannot stand by and watch women's rights erode," Pine said. "It is inconceivable that in 2022 we will once again be debating whether a woman should have control over her own reproductive decisions."
For his part, Slocum noted that "it is imperative that all people who believe in the fundamental rights of our Constitution make their voices heard, and that includes San Mateo County."
The full Board's consideration of the resolution, to be heard Tuesday, May 17 at a regularly scheduled meeting, comes in the face of growing concern that the U.S. Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.
"What we need to look at is expanding women's rights and expanding access to affordable, quality health care for women, not tearing down rights and services," Pine said.
The county, with funding approved by the Board of Supervisors, noted that it has a long history of supporting access to health care and reproductive health for women with a focus on access for low-income women of color. This includes funding a network of community clinics operated by non-profit organizations as well as county-operated facilities.
The Board also supports a variety of programs for pregnant women and mothers that give their children a healthy start through training and education, nutritional support, and connections to medical and behavioral health services that promote wellness.
Key research-based programs include the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program, the Nurse-Family Partnership program, Healthy Families America and the Black Infant Health program.
"What is clear is that the assault on women's rights is one step in the assault on many other rights that we should no longer take for granted. This list includes the freedom to marry who we want, religious freedom, our fundamental rights to privacy. We should no longer take for granted anything we consider a human right," Slocum said.
And according to a survey conducted last year by the Public Policy Institute of California? a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank? Californians are "overwhelmingly against the repeal of Roe v. Wade.
San Mateo County has previously voiced support for abortion rights, including joining an amicus brief in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case, which is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court and was the subject of a recently leaked court opinion.
To learn more about the Board's proposed action to provide "unwavering support" for women's reproductive decisions, you can click here.
In addition, you can access the May 17, 2022 Board of Supervisors public meeting via Zoom at the link. https://smcgov.zoom.us/j/94083749340with the meeting ID: 940 8374 9340.
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