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Maine legislators and Gov. Janet Mills should be congratulated for their roles in passing and signing LD 227, An Act Regarding Health Care in the State. As the president of the Maine Family Planning board of directors, I see daily how reproductive and gender-affirming health care is essential to Mainers’ livelihoods across the state. People must have the fundamental right to make informed medical choices in collaboration with their trusted health care providers. This legislation helps ensure that freedom.
We’re witnessing constant threats to bodily freedom across the country, from states restricting or eliminating access to abortion care to bans on essential gender-affirming care. These discriminatory laws and policies limiting access to lifesaving care are forcing patients to seek out-of-state help. With this legislation, Maine has become a beacon of hope for people who need essential health care while protecting providers who help them access this critical care.
We must do everything possible to protect reproductive and gender-affirming care in Maine and affirm our commitment to bodily freedom. That’s why I’m grateful to the Legislature and Mills for their leadership in protecting access to high-quality, medically necessary care.
Barbara Taback Schneider
President
Maine Family Planning board of directors
Bethel
