Shaheen Statement on 25-Year Anniversary of Her Repeal of NH Law that Deemed Abortion a Felony
(Manchester, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement on the 25-year anniversary of her actions as Governor to repeal a State law that deemed abortion a felony in New Hampshire. Shaheen signed SB34 into law on June 3, 1997, which repealed the anti-abortion law.
“I was proud to be the Governor who at long last repealed this outdated, dangerous law that stripped women of their freedoms and personal health decisions about when and how to start their families. In the two-and-a-half decades since, New Hampshire women have fought fervently to build on that progress and ensure their personal health decisions remain with them – not the government. It’s shameful that twenty-five years later, we are back to where we started and that today we have a Republican Party in New Hampshire and Washington that believes they are better equipped to make women’s most personal, life-changing decisions. I was determined to fight these antiquated and dangerous ideologies then and I’m even more determined today – because we will not go back,” said Senator Shaheen. “As the future of Roe is under threat, it is paramount that Granite Staters and Americans across the country raise their voices and match their outrage with action in November. We need leaders who trust women.”
Senator Shaheen is an unrelenting advocate for women’s reproductive rights. She recently held a press conference with the New Hampshire delegation and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England to discuss what’s at stake for women’s freedoms and reproductive health in New Hampshire if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, and she spoke on the Senate floor to urge lawmakers to vote in favor of legislation that would codify Roe. For years, Shaheen has fought to expand coverage of women’s preventative care, including through her legislation to reduce the cost of contraception for servicewomen and dependents in military families. In March, she joined HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra in Manchester for a meeting with New Hampshire family planning providers amid continued attacks from State and congressional Republicans. She recently penned an op-ed for the Union Leader underscoring the threats to women’s freedoms and rights if Roe is overturned. It can be read in full here.
