Rep. Katherine Clark Announces Bicameral Reproductive Rights Act

New legislation was introduced Thursday that would require the U.S. State Department to include reproductive rights in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

Rep. Katherine Clark (MA-5), Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Representative Barbara Lee (CA-13), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) announced bicameral introduction of the Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act.

In 2017 the all mention of reproductive health was taken out of the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which was a tool used to educate and alert the nation to the deprivation of women’s access to reproductive rights in any country receiving U.S. foreign aid, as well as in United Nations member states.

Congress and the private sector rely upon them when considering appropriations requests and making advocacy, planning, and policy decisions. The report is also used by immigration judges and asylum officers to determine asylum status for women declaring human rights abuses at the U.S. border.

Rep. Clark argues that removing mention of reproductive health in the report sends a message to abusive governments that the U.S. will no longer hold them accountable for violations.

“The White House is attacking women by erasing them,” said Vice Chair Clark. “Today, we are taking action. Regardless of who sits in the Oval Office, the U.S. government must serve as a watchdog and advocate for women’s fundamental reproductive rights.”

Upon introduction, the bill has support from 127 House co-sponsors, 31 Senate co-sponsors and 88 outside organizations.