I support the ACLU & Planned Parenhood’s position on removing the unnecessary and harmful TRAP regulations on abortion clinics. I grew up in Virginia, went to College in the Commonwealth and have strong ties to my home. I  am a registered voter currently residing overseas, but I want to ensure that the women of Virginia will have access to the healthcare they need including abortion.  

The Virginia Board of Health must rely on proven, evidence-based medicine, not ideology. There is not, and never has been, a medically justifiable reason for regulating abortion providers like hospitals. Instead, these restrictions were designed to shutter doctors’ offices and clinics that provide abortion services and prevent women from receiving access to healthcare, including cancer screenings, birth control and safe abortion. These restrictions are unconstitutional and put an undue burden on women seeking abortion services. The Board of Health must heed the expertise of doctors, medical professionals and legal experts in voting to protect providers of abortion services from onerous, medically unnecessary and unconstitutional regulation.

Abortion provider laws and regulations in Virginia pose an undue burden to patients seeking abortion.