AAMA Statement on President Biden’s New Executive Order

Published on July 08, 2022

(Washington, D.C.) — As President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care Services, Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. of Little Rock, Arkansas and president of the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) released the following statement:

“America's Black mayors appreciate the steps the Biden administration is taking to defend reproductive rights and protect access to safe and legal abortion at the federal level. As the president said, this is about individuals’ rights to privacy, autonomy, freedom, and equality. Having a choice about your reproductive health should be the law of the land as it has been for almost 50 years.

“It’s up to all of us to do as much as we can to restore this right. For mayors, this includes working with law enforcement to lower the priority of abortion-related investigations and limit the use of city funds for related criminal investigations.

“The burden and the harms of restrictions to abortion access falls disproportionately on Black communities, who face injustices and inequities like higher rates of poverty and racism in the health care system. Those in need of abortions need reprieve now. America's Black mayors are working to meet this moment and ensure all of our communities have access to the reproductive health care that they need.”

This Executive Order includes:

● Safeguarding access to reproductive health care services, including abortion and contraception

● Protecting the privacy of patients and their access to accurate information

● Promoting the safety and security of patients, providers, and clinics; and

● Coordinating the implementation of Federal efforts to protect reproductive rights and access to health care.

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The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is the only organization dedicated to representing over 500 African-American mayors across the United States. AAMA seeks to empower local leaders for the benefit of their citizens. The role of the AAMA includes taking positions on public policies that impact the vitality and sustainability of cities; providing mayors with leadership and management tools; and creating a forum for member mayors to share best practices related to municipal management.