Designating a day in May 2025, as "Disability Reproductive Equity Day".
This is a non-binding House resolution designating a day in May 2025 as “Disability Reproductive Equity Day.” The resolution aims to raise awareness and support for the reproductive and sexual health autonomy of people with disabilities. It acknowledges longstanding and ongoing barriers to equitable care, including coercive histories (such as forced sterilization) and current legal, financial, and logistical obstacles that limit access to contraception, prenatal care, and other reproductive health services. The resolution also reiterates the importance of civil rights protections under federal law and urges continued commitment to upholding those protections to defend the reproductive rights of people with disabilities. As a resolution, it does not create new law or funding; rather, it signals congressional intent to promote awareness and policy attention on disability and reproductive equity.
Key Points
- 1Designates a day in May 2025 as “Disability Reproductive Equity Day” to support and raise awareness of the right of people with disabilities to reproductive and sexual health, autonomy, and freedom.
- 2Documents the history and existence of reproductive coercion and discrimination against people with disabilities, including references to Buck v. Bell and the fact that many states still have or have had laws permitting forced sterilization.
- 3Highlights persistent barriers to care for people with disabilities, such as harmful stereotypes, guardianship-based consent issues, financial and language barriers, delays in care, inaccessible facilities and equipment, and limited provider training on disability-specific reproductive health needs.
- 4Points out disparities in care, noting that people with disabilities are less likely to receive contraception counseling and timely prenatal care and may face higher rates of sterilization and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
- 5Pledges to advance the rights of people with disabilities to reproductive and sexual health and calls on the President to uphold and strengthen the protections provided by the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Affordable Care Act to support these rights.