Opening Statement of Councilmember Grosso

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

Hearing on
Abortion Provider Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2017
June 6, 2018

Thank you, Chairperson Allen for holding this hearing.

I introduced the Abortion Provider Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2017 along with
you and Councilmembers Nadeau, Evans, Bonds, and Robert White last November.

Despite the protection provided by Roe v. Wade, elected officials in state houses across the
country and up on Capitol Hill are trying to make it effectively impossible to access abortion
services. This includes a climate of demonization of the medical professionals who provide
these services.

A doctor, nurse, or other health practitioner should not have to fear for their job based on their
support for the right to choose or their willingness to participate in abortion services. In fact,
discrimination based on an employee’s participation in abortion – or willingness to do so – has
been illegal under federal law since 1976.

But there are gaps in the federal law, which has led a number of states to legislate additional
protections.

The District of Columbia has not done so, but this legislation would fix that.

It is a rather simple bill, adding protections under our Human Rights Act for health
professionals who speak publicly about abortion, or who have a second job providing abortion
services.

At a time when speaking out about the importance of access to abortion is critical, we had an
incident here in D.C. last year in which a hospital tried to silence a doctor who was an
outspoken defender of reproductive rights.

This sort of retaliation, or the firing of healthcare professionals for treating a woman seeking
an abortion as has happened elsewhere, is inappropriate and discriminatory.

With over 45,000 people employed in the healthcare industry in the District of Columbia, we
need to protect these individuals from employment discrimination like this.

While only a few of those would be likely to need the protection of this bill, we pride ourselves
as a jurisdiction that staunchly defends the right to an abortion, and we should ensure that no

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nurse or doctor fears that they will lose their jobs or careers because of participation in
abortion services or advocacy.

A few years ago, I introduced, and this Council passed, the Reproductive Health Non-
Discrimination Amendment Act, to ensure that all employees could make their own
reproductive health decisions without retaliation from employers.

This measure seeks to counter discrimination in a similar vein, in spite of Congress’ continued
efforts to sanction such discrimination.

Additionally, on today’s agenda is the Wage Garnishment Fairness Amendment Act of 2017,
which I co-introduced with Councilmember Silverman, Bonds, Evans, and Trayon White.

As we continue to have conversations about the cost of living in D.C. and the challenges facing
our residents who are poor, I believe this bill is an important contribution to the effort to
increase equality.

Thank you to everyone for being here today, and I look forward to the conversation.

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