State Senator Jay Costa Reaffirms Commitment to IVF, Reproductive Healthcare

HARRISBURG, PA March 4, 2024 − On February 16, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a ruling that declared embryos “children” under Alabama law, an unprecedented step in narrowing crucial reproductive healthcare access for thousands of women. In response to this action, Democratic Leader Jay Costa releases the following statement:

“Alabama IVF ruling is the latest win in the Republican campaign against bodily autonomy.

“The Republican extremist position on abortion is bigger than abortion – it’s about who can make decisions about women’s bodies. They want to decide whether, when and how you can start a family, that goes from abortion to IVF, and if we aren’t careful – contraceptive care as well.“The Republican extremist position on abortion is bigger than abortion – it’s about who can make decisions about women’s bodies. They want to decide whether, when and how you can start a family, that goes from abortion to IVF, and if we aren’t careful – contraceptive care as well.

“Their enforcement of the principle that ‘life begins at conception’ leaves no room for you and your doctor to decide what’s best for you. It’s the basis for every regressive action they’ve taken in recent years.

“In 2020, Senate Republicans and their hardline anti-abortion platform sought to eliminate your right to get a telemedicine medication abortion prescription – essentially banning abortion during the pandemic.

“In 2022, Republicans celebrated the overturn of Roe v Wade, a nearly 50-year precedent that protected your freedom to decide whether to end a pregnancy in the first two trimesters.

“Just two weeks later, Senate Republicans here in Pennsylvania passed a bill that would have amended our state’s constitution to say that you have no rights relating to abortion.

“In 2023, Republicans pushed a case that would revoke the decades long FDA approval of mifepristone – the drug used for miscarriage management and early medication abortion.

“And already in 2024, a Republican-leaning court in Alabama decided that “life” begins at conception and interfered in the ability of families to use in vitro fertilization (IVF).

“This is all the same fight for them. Every single legislative action and court decision they advance is about controlling your body. And they aren’t done.

“We can be sure that they will go after the legal precedents of Comstock and Griswold that allow you to be prescribed and mailed contraceptives.

“When they say now that they oppose the Alabama decision and they support IVF, it’s disingenuous. It is their dogged attacks on abortion that paved the way for that ruling, and it’s what will advance their next attack on your care, your autonomy and the future of your family.”

Read more about the PA Senate Democrats’ commitment to quality affordable healthcare for every Pennsylvanian here.

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Remembering the Victims of the Tree of Life Shooting

Remembering the Victims of the Tree of Life Shooting

October 27 marks three years since the Tree of Life mass shooting. On this day, 11 worshippers were murdered at the Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. This anti-Semitic hate crime happened just a few blocks from where I grew up. Squirrel Hill is a peaceful, welcoming community full of wonderful people.

 

These are the people who died that day:

Joyce Fienberg, 75, of Oakland
Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross Township
Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill
Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood
Cecil Rosenthal, 59, of Squirrel Hill (brother of David Rosenthal)
David Rosenthal, 54, of Squirrel Hill (brother of Cecil Rosenthal)
Bernice Simon, 84, of Wilkinsburg (married to Sylvan Simon)
Sylvan Simon, 87, of Wilkinsburg (married to Bernice Simon)
Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill
Melvin Wax, 87, of Squirrel Hill
Irving Younger, 69, of Mt. Washington

Senator Costa Statement on Passing of Richard Trumka

PITTSBURGH – August 5, 2021 – Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released a statement today on the passing of Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO:

“I extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Richard Trumka after his passing today. Not only is this their loss, but a great loss for the entire labor community and the workers of this country and around the world.

A Pennsylvania native himself, Trumka embodied the ideals of this commonwealth through his hard work as a coalminer in Nemacolin, PA, his election as the youngest ever president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), and his eventual rise to president of the AFL-CIO.

He fought his entire life for working families to have stable and safe jobs, living wages, and for the promise that immigrant families like his own could come to this country and truly make a better and more prosperous life.

I stand in solidarity with the labor community, and I will continue to commit myself to the ideals of fair labor practices and good jobs that support working families.

Richard Trumka’s legacy and commitment to the labor movement in Pennsylvania and far beyond will never be forgotten.”

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