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� OF C'T D r 00go 000 O� 12650 DETROIT AVENUE 44107 216-529-6055 wwwdakewn oh.goy Lakewood City Council JOHN LITTEN,PRESIDENT SARAH KEPPLE,VICE PRESIDENT Council at Large Ward Council THOMAS R.BULLOCK III KYLE BAKER,WARD 1 TRISTAN RADER JASON SHACHNER,WARD 2 SARAH KEPPLE JOHN LITTEN,WARD 3 CINDY MARX,WARD 4 July 5, 2022 Lakewood City Council Lakewood, Ohio Re: Protecting residents from interference by the State in their healthcare decisions Dear Colleagues, On June 24d', the United States Supreme Court held that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. That same day, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a motion to dissolve the Preliminary Injunction against Senate Bill 23 of the 133rd General Assembly (the "Heartbeat Bill") with the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Western Division, which was granted. As a result, providing abortion care after the detection of fetal cardiac activity is now punishable as a felony of the fifth degree. The law does not include any exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. Further, House Bill 598 and Senate Bill 123 are currently being debated by the General Assembly and would make providing abortion care a felony of the fourth degree and promotion of abortion care a misdemeanor of the first degree. The primary sponsor of the House Bill has described pregnancy caused by rape as an "opportunity" and has indicated that she would be open to banning birth control. We have already witnessed the devastating effects of this legislation. Last week, it was reported that a 10-year-old rape victim was denied an abortion in Ohio and forced to travel to a neighboring state to receive abortion care. It is incomprehensible that there are elected officials in this state that desire to see children bear their rapist's child. Council also convened a Special Meeting last week, to approve a resolution calling on the Ohio General Assembly and Congress to act to protect abortion rights. We heard from women who have lived in Lakewood for years and have never attended, let alone spoke at a Council Meeting before, sharing powerful,personal stories and speaking in support of abortion rights. They expressed the horror of living in a state where abortion care is outlawed and desire to live in a community that protects the fundamental rights and freedom of women.