The Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (H7442/S2549) would get rid of the bans on health coverage for abortion for state employees and people who use Medicaid.
When: Thursday, May 19 at the rise of the House, roughly 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Where: House Finance Committee, rm. 35
What: H7442 - The Equality in Abortion Coverage Act

It’s been a fight to get this hearing. We need to ensure that all of us have access to abortion. Please swell our numbers (the opposition will be there). Wear pink. Testify if you can. Try to come early to sign the testimony sign up to show your support. If you don’t want to speak you can add that.

We anticipate this will be a long night, so please bring water and snacks. Come as early as you can and stay as long as you can. Please note that signs are not allowed in the hearing room. And there are likely to be limits on length of testimony, so we suggest planning for 1.5 - 2 min. SEE BELOW

What you can do now:

1. Write to House Finance Chair, Marvin Abney:rep-abney [at] rilegislature.gov asking him to support passage out of committee and onto the floor for a vote.
2. Write to Committee members urging passage.
3. Write your legislator and urge a floor vote for the EACA and encourage other legislators to do the same. To find your elected official, visit https://vote.sos.ri.gov 

BACKGROUND, TALKING POINTS, AND SAMPLE LETTERS from our Equality in Abortion Campaign partner, The Womxn Project: https://bit.ly/EACAhearingguide. (Copy and paste into your browser)

This can be useful for both short/simple messaging, or for more detailed information.

WRITTEN TESTIMONY:
Send written testimony to: HouseFinance [at] rilegislature.gov. Testimony must include: your name, bill number and viewpoint (for/against/neither). Any testimony received without a bill number may not be disseminated to members or posted to the website. Written testimony is posted to the General Assembly website as soon as possible. The posting of documents may be delayed due to high volume and will be delayed if submitted or hand-delivered at hearings. Please send written testimony by the day before as there will be high volume.

IN PERSON TESTIMONY: Individuals may testify in person. Sign-up sheets are available in/outside the hearing room. Signs/posters/pictures are not allowed to be displayed inside hearing room.

Your emails/written testimony can be as brief as you like.

TELEVISION AND LIVESTREAM
The meeting will be televised live by Capitol Television on Cox Communications (channels 15, 61, and 1061 for high definition), Full Channel (on 15) and Verizon (on channel 34). Livestreaming is available at https://www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx.