Congressman Goldman Convenes Virtual Roundtable with New York State, New York City, Reproductive Freedom Advocates to Discuss Threats to National Abortion Rights, New York’s Status as a Safe Haven State Ahead of Supreme Court Mifepristone Decision

"The only logical explanation is [Republicans] just simply want to control women, and we need to stand up to that at the ballot box and around the country." –Congressman Goldman

Roundtable Follows Goldman’s Announcement of ‘Abortion Care Awareness Act’ To Combat Anti-Abortion Misinformation

Comes One Week Before Supreme Court Set to Rule on Case that Could Further Erode National Abortion Access

Participants Discussed Options for Accessing Reproductive Health Care, Including Medication Abortion and Telemedicine, New York’s Continued Leadership in Protecting Reproductive Freedoms Nationwide

Watch a Recording of the Event Here

New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) yesterday hosted a virtual roundtable with New York State officials, New York City officials, the Expanding Medication Abortion Access (EMAA) Project, the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine (ACT), the Brigid Alliance, and the New York Birth Control Access Project (NYBCAP). Congressman Goldman convened the group to discuss options for women seeking reproductive health care in New York as well as New York’s efforts to help women nationwide obtain abortion care.

This roundtable comes just one week before the United States Supreme Court is set to begin hearing oral arguments in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. The most significant abortion rights case before the Supreme Court since Dobbs, the decision in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine will impact health care formillions of women with the Court deciding whether or not to restrict access to the abortion medication, mifepristone. Without the ability to prescribe medication abortion via telemedicine, New Yorkers will face more difficulty in accessing the drug and efforts to provide abortion access for women nationwide will be severely hampered.

“New York has long led the nation in the fight to protect and enshrine reproductive freedoms,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “In just one week, the Supreme Court is set to decide a case which could further upend reproductive freedoms across the United States. I’m proud to stand alongside New York City, New York State, and leading advocacy organizations to ensure New York remains a refuge for women fighting for their bodily autonomy and the right to make their own decisions about their reproductive health care. New York will always stand for reproductive freedom, and I will never stop fighting to ensure every woman around the country can access abortion care.”

Marisa Nadas, MD, MPH, Reproductive Health Clinical Lead for NYC Health + Hospitals said, “Since as early as we have documentation of the human experience, we know that people have been terminating pregnancies to control their life trajectory. People will continue to find ways to have abortions, to exert their bodily autonomy, and here in NYC Health + Hospitals we will find ways to support them to do it safely, within the scope of the law, and with the maximum range of options available to them.”

Kirsten Moore, Director of the Expanding Medication Abortion Access Project said, “The FDA’s medical and scientific experts approved mifepristone, and they should decide what medications are available to women, not politicians or the courts. If the Supreme Court upholds the misleading arguments of the Fifth Circuit, then we will have a de facto national ban on the use of telehealth and pharmacy access to medication abortion care.”

Julie F. Kay, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine said, “Telemedicine offers a way for licensed clinicians to provide access to safe, legal and affordable medication abortion to women in all 50 states. More than one sixth of all abortions are now done by telemedicine. As a result of telemedicine abortion shield laws, women nationwide have a greater freedom to make reproductive health decisions and determine whether, when and with whom to have a child. Now, a vehemently anti-abortion Supreme Court is set to play politics with women’s access to telemedicine abortion through a case that flies in the face of science and the FDA’s independent drug approval processes and tramples established legal precedent. The Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine is grateful to our legislative heroes at the federal, state and local level who are joining us in fighting to keep the doors open for vital, virtual abortion clinics. Together we can stand strong and to protect the human rights of every woman and pregnant person in America while we work to protect telemedicine abortion and to expand all our reproductive freedoms.”

Sarah Moeller, Senior Director of External Relations for the Brigid Alliance said, “At the Brigid Alliance, where we provide abortion support services like arranging and paying for local and long distance travel and overnight accommodations, and providing payments to cover the costs of meals, child care, and personal travel items, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of people who seek our services. Even in New York, where some of the strongest pro-choice policies are in place, the costs and logistical challenges remain barriers to access for all. That's why it is critical to lift up and move forward legislation that combats abortion care misinformation, a leading barrier to access, and ensure that people making personal healthcare and family planning decisions are equipped with adequate care and trustworthy information.”

Jenna Bimbi, Founder and Co-Executive Director of the New York Birth Control Access Project said, “Attacks on abortion across the country have created a catalyst for people to fight — not just for the right to choose, but for real, comprehensive reproductive health, including birth control. In New York, which was already a bastion for protections, we are seeing legislators, advocates, and health leaders reaching for the ceiling, and not settling for less. We are on our way and not done yet.”

The roundtable discussion began with New York State and City officials who shared state and local work to protect reproductive freedom for all New Yorkers. During the roundtable, New York State officials announced that Governor Hochul’s team signed an order to ensure that pharmacists are able to dispense self-administered hormonal birth control without a prescription. Additionally, New York has been working to help those coming from out-of-state seeking reproductive health care. The state representatives discussed how New York may be impacted in supporting women both in- and out-of-state access abortion care by upcoming Supreme Court cases.

Doctor Marisa Nadas, Reproductive Health Clinical Lead for New York City Health + Hospitals, discussed the City’s work to help connect residents with abortion care and services, specifically Health + Hospitals’ Virtual ExpressCare Telehealth Services. New York City patients are now able to schedule a Virtual ExpressCare appointment to speak with a New York state-licensed health care professional by video or phone, on-demand, for an assessment and counseling. If clinically appropriate and prescribed, patients will be able to receive a medication abortion kit at their New York City address within a few days.

Additionally, the Congressman was joined by EMAA, ACT, the Brigid Alliance, and NYBCAP to discuss their work to expand access to reproductive health care for women nationwide and what’s at stake as the Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. Specifically, they highlighted the potential impacts this Supreme Court case may have on women’s ability to access medication abortion and telemedicine, even in states like New York that are safe havens for reproductive freedom.

Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to protecting abortion access across the country.

Earlier this week, Goldman announced his intent to introduce the ‘Abortion Care Awareness Act,’ the first bill he is set to introduce in 2024. Goldman will be introducing this bill alongside Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30). This bill would increase access to medically accurate information about abortion, specifically medication abortion. Additionally, the ‘Abortion Care Awareness Act’ would ensure people have access to accurate information about where and how to obtain abortion services across the country, how to avoid anti-abortion centers intended to deceive patients, and how to identify misinformation about abortion care.

In March of 2023, the Congressman cosponsored the ‘Women’s Health Protection Act,’ which establishes a federal right for healthcare professionals to provide abortion care and the right for their patients to receive care, free from bans and medically unnecessary restrictions that single out abortion care. The ‘Women’s Health Protection Act’ codifies and expands upon the rights established in Roe v. Wade.

Congressman Goldman is a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus.

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