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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE PASSAGE OF ILLINOIS HOUSE BILL 40
WHEREAS, Cook County government has a public health mandate and funds the Cook County Health and Hospitals System which delivers integrated health services with dignity and respect to all residents; and,
WHEREAS, The Cook County Health and Hospitals System services over 300,000 individuals every year; and,
WHEREAS, the Cook County Health and Hospitals System is building a state of the art Women and Children’s Center at Stroger Hospital to better serve this often underserved population; and,
WHEREAS, Cook County recognizes the importance of a woman’s right to make health care choices including, reproductive health, that best serves her and her family; and,
WHEREAS, In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruled that this right is protected by the Constitution of the United States; and,
WHEREAS, In response to Roe vs. Wade, the Illinois General Assembly enacted a law in 1975 that would trigger language making abortion illegal in Illinois if Roe v. Wade was ever reversed; and,
WHEREAS, Illinois law also denies health insurance coverage for abortions for women covered by Medicaid or state employee health insurance; and,
WHEREAS, Illinois House Bill 40 respects the rights of individuals to make their own family planning decisions by removing both the trigger language and the discriminatory insurance coverage provisions; and,
WHEREAS, Passage of House Bill 40 is of critical importance because the current administration has made statements about appointing Justices to the Supreme Court who would be open to reversing Roe v. Wade, creating a real danger that the trigger language would become effective; and,
WHEREAS, Removal of the trigger language is necessary to safeguard a woman’s right to make her own choices about her health; and,
WHEREAS, All women should have access to comprehensive health care, regardless of whether they have private or government-funded health insurance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, do hereby affirm our commitment to a woman’s right to make her own reproductive health choices, and to have health insurance coverage for the option she chooses; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we call upon the Governor, upon receipt of this important legislation, to promptly sign House Bill 40 into law as it was passed by the Illinois General Assembly; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Governor of Illinois, the President of the Illinois Senate, the Minority Leader of the Illinois Senate, the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives, as a sign of our commitment to this important issue.
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