Pa. Lt. Gov. Davis joins multi-state abortion alliance

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis announced on Monday that he has joined a national group of lieutenant governors to expand and protect access to reproductive rights nationwide. 

Known as The Reproductive Freedom Coalition, the group of 22 Democratic lieutenant governors is focused on protecting abortion access in their states, including through crafting model executive orders and legislation, and is led by Connecticut Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz.

Other members of the coalition include: 

• Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes
• California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis
• Colorado Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera
• Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long
• Guam Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio 
• Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke 
• Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton 
• President of the Maine Senate Troy Jackson 
• Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller 
• Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll
• Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist 
• Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan 
• New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver 
• New Mexico Lt. Gov. Howie Morales 
• New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado 
• Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan 
• Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos 
• Vermont Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman 
• Washington Lt. Gov. Denny Heck 
• Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez 

The group wrote in a statement that it “intends to maximize the availability of federal funds for reproductive health care and back manufacturers of medication abortion.”

“Every Pennsylvanian should have the right to bodily autonomy and the freedom to make their own personal decision about whether or not to have a child,” Davis said in a statement on Monday. “Right now abortion care is safe and accessible in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Gov. Josh Shapiro and I will always protect reproductive freedom.”