Thread by @RewireNewsGroup

Happy Friday to everyone, especially @GovKathyHochul, who announced a new agenda this week aimed at protecting and expanding abortion access for New Yorkers in response to Texas #SB8 and other anti-abortion laws across the country.

"Abortion access is safe in New York—the rights of those who are seeking abortion services will always be protected here …

To the women of Texas, I want to say I am with you. Lady Liberty is here to welcome you with open arms." —@GovKathyHochul

Here’s a quick look at what’s on that agenda:
👩‍⚕️launching a public information campaign to address patient rights
💻 expanding access to telemedicine abortion
🙅‍♀️ urging Facebook to combat misinformation about abortion.

Hochul was joined by @SenGillibrand, a longtime ally for abortion rights who stressed that these efforts need to come from the federal government too.

“At the federal level, we must pass the Women's Health Protection Act, which would create federal protections against state restrictions that fail to protect women's health and intrude upon personal decision-making.” —@SenGillibrand

Just weeks after SCOTUS gutted Roe, and with half the states in the country poised to follow in Texas’ footsteps and enact near-total abortion bans, GovKathyHochul’s announcement comes not a minute too soon and should serve as a model for other states.

And in fact, today it was announced that next week the House will vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act, which will prevent states from passing abortion restrictions like #SB8, regardless of what SCOTUS rules on the issue.

We’ll be keeping an eye on efforts to both decimate and safeguard abortion access across the country, so for all the latest be sure you’re following us here on Twitter and on Instagram at @RewireNewsGroup.