►
From YouTube: Reproductive Rights Roundtable - Congressman Peter Welch
Description
From the Office of Peter Welch:
Rep. Welch joins abortion care providers from Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, UVM Medical Center, and a representative from Medical Students for Choice to learn how Vermont providers are preparing for an influx of patients from other states seeking abortion care in Vermont, following the recent Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The group discusses actions Congress is taking to codify reproductive rights nationwide.
8/5/2022
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A
Thank
you
all
for
coming
we're
going
to
be
talking
about
the
impact
of
the
dobbs
decision
on
the
delivery
of
health
care
to
women
and
I'm
delighted
to
be
joined
lucy
with
folks
who
are
on
the
front
lines
here
of
providing
the
health
care
that
women
need
just
a
few
comments.
The
dobbs
decision
is
a
shocking
act
of
judicial
vandalism
by
our
supreme
court.
B
A
There
were
many
rallies
around
the
state
and
what
I
remember
so
vividly
about
that.
It
was
different
than
other
times
when
there's
been
citizen
objection
to
something
either
congress
or
the
supreme
court
has
done,
and
what
I
would
see
was
anger.
At
this
event,
I
saw
a
lot
of
fear.
There
were
real
real
world
implications
for
people
and
they
knew
that-
and
I
know
you'll
be
able
to
speak
to
that.
A
The
second
thing
that
I
find
extraordinary
about
this
decision
is
how
it's
poor
gasoline
on
and
lit
the
match
on
the
division
we
have
in
this
country.
That
is
already
too
much.
We
need
more
unity,
we
need
more
mutual
respect,
we
need
more
collaboration,
and
what
this
decision
has
done
is
exactly
the
opposite,
because
we
have
peaceful
coexistence.
There
are
people
in
this
country
who
do
not
want
do
not
believe
in.
A
Many
states,
of
course,
have
already
passed
legislation
that
would
do
that.
You
know
I'm
very,
very
hopeful
here
in
vermont
that
we'll
pass
proposition
five.
Our
legislature
has
has
approved
that
our
governor
said
that
he
will
support
that,
and
you
know
it's
great
if,
in
vermont,
the
citizens
protect
reproductive
freedom
for
women
by
improving
proposition
5.
A
And
yes,
we
want
to
pass
that
here
in
vermont,
but
vermont
women
want
the
ripe
of
choice
to
be
available
to
all
women
and
that's
why
the
supreme
court
decision
is
so
bad.
So,
but
thank
you
so
much
for
coming
for
the
work
you
do,
but
now
I'll
turn
it
over
to
lucy
and
it's
great
to
be
with
you,
I'm
so
admire
the
work.
You've
done
all
these
years.
D
D
D
D
What
longer-term
birth
control
options
are
available
and
out-of-state
callers
want
to
know
if
they
will
face
prosecution
for
coming
to
our
area
for
care.
In
fact,
anecdotally,
we
had
a
person,
call
the
health
center
and
wanted
to
know
if
they
could
be
prosecuted
for
an
abortion
that
they
had
received
years
ago.
D
D
We
are
committed
to
serving
everyone
who
walks,
through
our
doors,
we're
also
committed
to
protecting
reproductive
rights
in
vermont
long
term.
In
this
november,
vermonters
will
vote
on
the
reproductive
liberty
amendment
or
article
22,
previously
known
as
prop
5,
which
will
protect
every
person's
right
to
make
their
own
reproductive
decisions
like
whether
and
when
to
become
pregnant,
use,
temporary
or
permanent
birth
control
or
seek
abortion
care
between
now
and
election
day.
D
B
Great
thank
you
lucy
very
much
and
thank
you,
congressman
welch
for
being
here
today
getting
attention
to
this
really
very
basic,
important
topic.
So
I
appreciate
that
I
think
I
am
here.
I
think,
for
a
little
historical
perspective.
I
think
my
work
with
planned
parenthood
started
when
abortion
was
illegal
in
vermont,
so.
B
In
the
in
the
early
1970s,
so
my
my
first
work
from
my
first
work
was
staffing
and
chairing
what
we
called
the
problem:
pregnancy
team,
that
provided
information
to
women
about
where
they
could
get
a
safe
abortion,
not
a
legal
abortion
but
a
safe
abortion.
And
at
that
time
we
referred
women
to
dr
henry
morgentaler
up
in
montreal,
because
abortion
was
not
legal
in
new
york
state
then
either
and
he
was
a
physician
who
had
abortion
facilities
and
the
government
chose
not
to
prosecute
him.
So
he
provided
safe
abortion.
B
Language
that
has
resurfaced
that
I
think,
is
important
to
pay
attention
to
and
some
important
situations
where,
what
might
not
be
legal
is
still
done
and
what
might
be
legal
is
not
done.
So
I'm
going
to
give
some
examples
of
that.
So,
first
of
all
around
language,
a
word
that
I
am
see
seeing
surface
again
is
the
word
elective
abortion.
B
We
used
to
use
that
term
back
when,
when
only
some
kinds
of
abortions
were
allowed
in
the
beginning
days,
and
now
I'm
seeing
reappear
again-
and
I
think
one
of
the
dangers
of
that
is.
It
implies
that
some
some
women
have
valid
reasons
for
seeking
an
abortion
and
other
women
are
seeking
abortion
only
just
they
don't
really
need
to,
but
they
just
want
to.
So
I
think
we
really
need
to
be
aware
of
that
sort
of
language
that
puts
women
into
different
categories,
depending
on
their
reason
for
for
seeking
abortion.
B
The
question
of
things
that
are
done
when,
when
abortion
is,
is
not
legal
but
is
done.
One
example
would
be
the
that
telephone
service
we
had,
which
was
illegal
by
vermont
law,
but
we
did
it
anyway,
and
I
think
we
will
see
that
happen
again.
I
think
we
will
begin
to
see
people
taking
action
that
may
not
be
legal
but
they're
going
to
do
it.
B
So
I
think
that
we're
faced
with
that
in
this
new
day.
The
other
thing
to
pay
attention
to
is
when
things
are
legal,
but
nobody
will
provide
it
so
back
when,
in
the
early
days
of
abortion
provision
when
abortion
finally
did
become
legal,
there
were
many
physicians
in
hospitals
who
did
not
want
to
perform
abortions,
and
that
so
that's
a
reason
that
that
women's
health
centers
came
forward
planned
parenthood
came
forward.
B
D
E
E
E
We're
fortunate
to
be
here
in
vermont,
where
we're
not
restricted,
at
least
not
yet,
and
I
feel
badly
for
my
colleagues
around
the
country
who
can't
offer
care
to
patients
who
desperately
need
it,
and
you
know
to
illustrate
that.
I
can
say
that,
just
in
since
the
time
of
the
dobbs
decision
was
made,
I've
had
you
know
four
patients
with
pregnancies
with
lethal
abnormalities,
a
mother
whose
life
was
in
danger
from
her
pregnancy
as
well
as
numerous
other.
E
You
know
cases
with
with
extremely
compelling
reasons
for
termination
of
pregnancy,
and
I
can
only
imagine
that,
if
that's
happening
here
in
our
small
state,
it
must
be
on
a
much
huger
scale
in
other
places,
and
I
you
know,
feel
badly
for
those
people,
and
I
guess
I
I'll
just
finish
up
by
saying
that.
I
think
that
the
idea
of
of
having
a
constitutional
amendment
here
in
vermont
to
protect
abortion
rights
is
a
very,
very
prudent
idea
that
I'm
hopeful
to
see
pass
in
the
fall
when
it
gets
voted
on.
D
E
D
F
F
Since
actually
sba
in
texas,
I
myself
helped
provide
abortion
care
to
somebody
from
texas
two
weeks
after
sba
was
passed
in
our
rutland
health
center.
So
it
is
already
happening
that
people
are
traveling
great
distances
and
sometimes
finding
their
way
to
vermont
as
their
way
to
access
their
needed
care.
F
We
certainly
anticipate
that
to
continue
and
to
increase.
Unfortunately,
in
these
times,
then
there
are
the
other
impacts
that
we
see
already.
You
know,
as
the
congressman
mentioned,
just
that
fear,
like
the
number
of
phone
calls
that
we've
already
received
in
our
health
centers
of
people,
local
and,
from
you
know,
great
distances
calling
with
you
know,
questions
about
how
to
access
care
sort
of
reassessing
their
approach
to
their
reproductive
health
care.
You
know:
we've
seen
a
big
upsurge
in
people
seeking
sterilization
services
seeking
long-acting,
reversible
contraceptives,
iuds
and
implants.
F
A
E
A
A
D
G
I
was
with
a
fourth
year
resident
in
the
case
with
dr
brown,
who's
interested
in
maternal
fetal
medicine,
and
she
mentioned
how
imperative
it
is
for
her
to
be
able
to
offer
all
therapeutic
options
to
her
patients
and
she's
training
at
vermont.
So
she
has
that
opportunity
to
learn
about
counseling
and
procedural
techniques,
but
other
institutions
do
not
offer
that
right.
As
far
as
medical
student
wellness
goes.
I
think
this
is
extremely
distressing
for
students,
especially
even
before
getting
to
medical
school.
G
And
also
being
medical
students
in
residence,
a
lot
of
people
will
delay
pregnancy
because
of
the
rigors
of
training
and,
as
we
know
as
you
get
older,
there
are
more
complications
with
pregnancy.
So
it's
another
decision
you
have
to
make
about
where
maybe
you
pursue
residency
training
because
you
want
access
to
care
in
case
there's
a
pregnancy
complication.
C
G
It's
terrifying
to
think
if
you're
training,
somewhere,
you've
gotten
you're
you've
gotten
to
some
of
the
the
peak
of
your
career
and
training,
and
if
something
were
to
happen
that
could
go
away
very
quickly.
So
those
are
some
of
the
things
we
wanted
to
bring
up
brittany.
Do
you
want
to
talk
about
anything.
H
On
the
flip
of
that,
there's
also
the
reality
that
folks,
who
can
become
pregnant,
including
our
trans
and
non-binary
colleagues,
may
choose
not
to
pursue
specialties
which
are
demanding
of
their
time
and
their
capacity.
So
you
know
a
lot
of
what
I've
noticed
as
someone
who's
been
in
the
medical
field
for
a
few
years,
even
prior
to
entering
medical
school
is
the
disparity
in
gender
of
the
providers
in
certain
specialties,
and
I
think
that
this
decision
will
only
exacerbate
that
issue.
D
A
D
A
I
know
you
have
where
the
person
who
is
pregnant
has
this
whole
vision
of
being
a
mom
and
maybe
getting
that
room
ready
for
the
child,
and
then
you
have
to
give
the
news
that
there's
a
real
lethal
situation
here
and
there's
a
heartbreaking
decision
that
has
to
be
made
well.
That
has
to
be
the
woman,
it
has
to
be
the
doctor
and
it
can't
be
the
government,
it
just
can't
be
the
government.
A
C
A
D
A
G
I
think
you
bring
up
a
good
point
on
how
it
should
be
a
decision
between
the
patient
and
the
physician
and
brittany,
and
I
were
talking
a
lot
how
this
decision,
often
what
times
affects
those
who
are
most
vulnerable,
so
that
will
be
our
black
and
people
of
color,
as
well
as
our
trans
folks.
So
I
think
it's
important
to
remember
them
in
that
comfort.
In
this
conversation
about
how
decisions
like
jobs
can
lead
to
other
adverse
decisions.
C
I
I
Questions
I
have
a
quick
question.
Earlier
this
week,
president
biden
sent
an
executive
order
that
would
make
it
easier
for
states
like
vermont
that
have
not
outlawed
abortions,
to
apply
for
medicaid
vouchers
to
help
pay
for
procedures
for
people
who
might
come
from
out
of
state
here.
Just
how?
How
crucial
is
that
to
be
able
to
get
these
medicaid
or
to
apply
for
the
medicaid
vouchers
to
to
pay
for
the
procedures?
Yeah.
D
Whether
it's
vermont
or
another
state,
it
is
incredibly
important
that
we
be
providing
resources
to
people
who
have
really
been
disadvantaged
and
discriminated
against,
based
on
where
they
live
in
regards
to
their
ability
to
get
health
care.
This
is
astounding
to
me
that
we
have.
We
live
in
a
country
where
your
human
rights
depend
on
where
you
live
and
what
state
you
live
in.
It's
it's
a
travesty,
so
I
we
absolutely
support
the
biden
administration
in
their
efforts
to
make
sure
there
are
resources
available
to
people
to
access
critical,
fundamental
health
care.
A
A
D
C
A
Unless
it
was
in
the
constitution,
when
it
was
written,
it
is
not
entitled
to
constitutional
protection,
contraception,
interracial,
marriage,
gay
marriage,
a
lot
of
the
privacy
issues
that
you
know,
we,
the
the
hope
of
the
constitution.
The
aspiration
of
the
constitution
is
all
men,
and
it
was
men
when
it
was
written,
are
created
equal
and
the
struggle
that
all
of
us
have
had
in
our
country
and
we're
all
part
of
is
to
broaden
that
definition.
B
A
C
D
C
A
D
A
F
Yeah,
so
in
vermont
we
are
fortunate
in,
unlike
other
states
where
there
have
been
barriers
to
abortion
access
long
before
you
know
these
most
recent
decisions,
where
you
know
the
hyde
amendment
prevented
using
federal
dollars
to
cover
abortion
care.
You
know,
private
insurers
could
not
cover
abortion
care,
like
the
the
actual
financial
barriers
that
people
across
this
country
have
faced
accessing
abortion
care
have
been
real
and
present
for
a
very
long
time
in
vermont.
That
situation
has
been
different
for
most
of
our
residents.
F
This
is
where,
if
you've
heard
about
abortion
funds
across
the
country,
they
do
incredible
work
and
continue
to
do
incredible.
Work
to
to
overcome
these
financial
barriers
for
people
and
are
really
stepping
up
in
this
moment
to
cover
travel
costs,
child
care
costs.
But
you
know
anybody
can
call
us.
You
know
at
planned
parenthood
and
get
like
a
really
clear
answer
about
what
their
coverage
is,
how
to
access
those
abortion
fund
monies.
J
D
In
other
words,
you
can
be
making
more
than
that
medicaid
eligible
amount
and
still
not
be
able
to
afford
health
care.
So
we
also
have
other
sources
of
funds
that
we
patch
together
to
make
sure
that
we
can
provide
care
no
matter
what
so
we
have
a
sliding
fee
skill.
We
make
sure
that
we
never
turn
patients
away.
All
patients
are
welcome.
We
provide
care
to
people
no
matter
what.
C
A
You
know
congress
can
act
that
the
verrant
legislature
can
act
and
we
can
pass
legislation.
The
women's
health
protection
act
that
codifies
reproductive
freedom
as
we
have
with
roe.
We
pass
that
in
the
house
and
it's
only
the
filibuster
in
the
senate.
That's
stopping
us
from
passing
that
so
congressional
legislation
could
overturn
the
dobbs
decision
by
providing
legislative
protection
for
all
women
across
the
country,
and
we
could
do
that
as
we
did
for
gay
marriage.
We
did
that
in
the
house,
and
there
was
support
in
the
senate
for
that.
A
So
this
takes
action
by
voters
in
all
across
the
country
to
send
to
congress
representatives
and
senators
who
are
going
to
stand
up
and
restore
the
privacy
protections
that
we
enjoyed
as
a
country
and
as
citizens
pre
jobs.
So
that's
very
much
within
the
power
of
congress
to
do
if
we
can
get
the
votes.
D
A
Know-
and
I
do
I
do
want
to
say
something
about
how
divided
the
country
is.
We
all
know
that
you
know
january
6
happens
it's
the
first
time
in
the
history
of
our
country.
We've
had
violence,
a
violent
attack
on
the
capitol
in
an
effort
to
stop
the
peaceful
transfer
of
power,
and
what
has
happened
with
the
dobbs
decision
is
that
it
is
added
to
the
division.
A
F
F
F
Where
places
like
planned
parenthood
are
on
the
front
lines
like
it
does
take
a
lot
of
resources
to
provide
safe,
medically
accurate,
patient-centered
healthcare
through
all
of
this-
and
you
know
we
we
are-
we
have
fallen
prey
to
some
of
those
forces
that
the
entire
healthcare
industry
has
at
just
the
wrong
time
right.
So
I
can't
sugarcoat
it
and
say
that
access
is
the
same
in
vermont
as
it
was
before
those
closures.
F
I
J
D
A
A
C
A
C
A
I
mean
who
are
these
justices
that
don't
have
a
clue
about
what
the
daily
reality
is
for
this
vulnerable
person,
who's
a
good
person
and
wants
a
future
and
wants
a
family
and
wants
to
be
part
of
the
community,
and
then
these
barriers
are
set
up
where
they're
terrified
and
thank
my
goodness,
think
of
it.
I
just
say
thank
you
for
the
medical
providers.