9071-19 - Condemn Heartbeat Bill

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Bullock, George, O'Leary, O'Malley, RESOLUTION NO. 9071 -19 BY: ( Rader A RESOLUTION to oppose and condemn the enactment of the 133rd General Assembly's six -week abortion ban through Substitute Senate Bill 23. WHEREAS, a six -week abortion ban will have profound negative impacts on the health of women in Lakewood by effectively eliminating access to all legal abortion services, without exceptions for cases of rape and incest and with woefully inadequate protections for the life and health of the woman; and WHEREAS, Substitute Senate Bill 23 negatively impacts the ability of Lakewood to attract and retain qualified medical professionals by threatening doctors with prison time and fines for performing duties in their capacity as medical professionals; and WHEREAS, access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion, supports the health and wellbeing of women and families in Lakewood by providing safe and healthy family planning options, preventing unintended pregnancies, increasing women's participation in the labor force, and improving economic security for families; and WHEREAS, there are many pressing and important public policy concerns that the 133rd General Assembly could address to the benefit of the City of Lakewood and its residents, and restricting health care and abortion access is not one of them; and WHEREAS, similar bans passed in other states have universally been ruled unconstitutional by courts throughout the United States; and WHEREAS, the considerable public resources that will be devoted to litigating Substitute Senate Bill 23 would be better spent on health care, education, infrastructure, or other programs which actually aid or assist the people of the State of Ohio and City of Lakewood; and WHEREAS, as one of the most extreme abortion bans in the country, Substitute Senate Bill 23 negatively impacts efforts by the City of Lakewood to attract businesses, young professionals, and entrepreneurs who help drive local economic activity and growth; and WHEREAS, rather than implementing regressive and extreme policies like Substitute Senate Bill 23, policy makers should instead focus on supportive services to reduce unintended pregnancies and promote the success of all families by investing in comprehensive sex education, access to contraceptives, and quality affordable childcare; now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO: Section 1. That this Council and Administration does hereby oppose the six -week abortion ban passed by the 133rd Ohio General Assembly through Substitute Senate Bill 23. Section 2. That the Clerk of Council is directed to transmit copies of this Resolution to Lakewood's representatives in the Ohio Legislature.