STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3579

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 206

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 206 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO STRONGLY SUPPORT PASSAGE OF THE WOMEN'S HEALTH PROTECTION ACT OF 2021 TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO ACCESS AND PROVIDE ABORTION SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge Hawaii's congressional delegation to strongly support the Women's Health Protection Act of 2021.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaii Family Forum and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the United States is experiencing a rise in the number of legal attacks on constitutionally protected reproductive rights, which include two United States Supreme Court cases that challenge the constitutionality of abortion legislation in Texas and Mississippi. Your Committee further finds that the Women's Health Protection Act of 2021, H.R. No. 3755, 117th Congress, protects a person's ability to determine whether to continue or end a pregnancy, and to protect a health care provider's ability to provide abortion services. This measure urges Hawaii's congressional delegation to strongly support the Women's Health Protection Act of 2021.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 206 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

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JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair