Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility House passes bill to enshrine reproductive freedom in state constitution

House passes bill to enshrine reproductive freedom in state constitution

Rep. Mike Schlossberg    December 17, 2025 | 5:37 PM

HARRISBURG, Dec. 17 – State Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, released the following statement on House passage of H.B. 1957, a bill to amend the state constitution to guarantee reproductive liberty in Pennsylvania:

“The Reproductive Freedom Act will give Pennsylvania’s voters the opportunity to decide if the right to privacy should be enshrined in the Pennsylvania Constitution. My views are clear and straightforward: I believe Pennsylvanians have the right to control their reproductive health decisions. Until recently, federal caselaw preserved these rights for all Americans. With years of efforts in Washington, D.C. to erode these rights, it is the responsibility of states to act on these matters. Given the Supreme Court of the United States’ ruling to unwind Roe v. Wade, I believe we have an obligation to re-establish freedom in Pennsylvania law so women can make the decisions which directly affect their health. An amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution is the path to take.

"The notion that government would inject itself into the bedroom or examining room of women across the Commonwealth boggles my mind and should serve as a warning for freedom-loving people. Abortion, contraception and family planning decisions are not the responsibility of government. They are deeply personal decisions, and I do not pretend for a moment to believe it is my place to impose my beliefs on the individuals who wrestle with the decisions.

"For my friends and neighbors who disagree on these principles, I beg you to consider how we can actually protect human life. In the richest country in human history, we have some of the worst rankings for maternal and infant morality rates. How, then, can we justify efforts to slash Medicaid, critical to giving pregnant women and young children access to life-saving medical care? Where do Republican leaders continuously stop efforts to provide guaranteed pre-natal care and delivery services, paid parental leave and paid sick leave? Why has the Republican-led Pennsylvania Senate refused to act on legislation to increase wages, so parents do not need to work two or three jobs to keep food on the table or be available to care for their kids? Policies like these will go miles to not only protect human life, but open windows of opportunity for families in Pennsylvania to thrive and prosper.”