A Philadelphia city-led task force focused on reproductive health met for the first time Wednesday, less than a month before a presidential election in which abortion has played a significant role.
Abortion laws in Pennsylvania have not changed since the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision more than two years ago, but the case did spark bans in other states and concerns about the potential of future restrictions locally.
“From young people – from young women and from young queer people, especially – we hear about reproductive freedom,” said City Councilmember Rue Landau, a member of the newly-formed Reproductive Freedom Task Force. “At the time of this particularly important election that is coming up, we are hearing about reproductive freedom a lot.”
Results from a KFF nationwide survey released Oct. 11 found that abortion is now the most important election issue for women under 30 years old, with nearly 40% in that age group reporting that it was the top factor affecting their vote.
“People think that we are too young to have a say, but young people care about this issue, and we know what we’re talking about,” said Eliza Cucchiara, 18, a high school senior at Science Leadership Academy and one of the task force’s three youth members.
Councilmember Kendra Brooks introduced a resolution, adopted last month, that authorized the task force, and she is serving as its chair. During a launch event Wednesday, she said she rejects the notion that abortion policy is only for lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and Harrisburg.
“When a single mom in Philadelphia can’t afford an abortion, that’s a local issue,” Brooks said. “When a young person is afraid to walk into a health clinic because an angry crowd is harassing patients outside, that’s a local issue.”
Another member of the task force, Dr. Chioma Ndubisi, an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Penn Medicine, said she has been treating more and more patients from as far away as Texas and Florida.
“I am hopeful that this Reproductive Freedom Task Force will lead to more than just a conversation,” she added. “I hope that it sparks real transformative action.”
Ndubisi she said believes Pennsylvania should end its mandatory 24-hour waiting period before an abortion, and she supports allowing Medicare to pay for the procedure, among other proposed changes.
In addition to abortion, the task force is expected to address menstrual health, sexual education, birth control and related topics.
Nearly 30 people are participating, including representatives from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Planned Parenthood, the Philadelphia Women’s Center and the American Civil Liberties Union. Eight officials from various city departments were also named to the committee.
Brooks said the Reproductive Freedom Task Force plans to meet quarterly, form subcommittees and produce a report. A timeline for its recommendations has not yet been established, she added.
“Let’s see what happens after Election Day, and it will determine how fast we need to move on producing a report and have movable outcomes,” Brooks said.
