Greenwood Issues Statement after House Bill 40 Becomes Law

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – State Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, issued the following statement after the governor signed House Bill 40 into law, allowing Medicaid recipients to use their insurance to cover abortions.

“All women, regardless of race or socio-economic status, should have access to quality and affordable healthcare. House Bill 40 helps ensure equality for women who may not be able to afford their own health insurance and rely on Medicaid for health coverage.

“Additionally, the signing of this law has effectively removed a dangerous ‘trigger law’ provision that would have ended a women’s right to choose in Illinois if Roe v. Wade is overturned on the federal level. We simply cannot and should not go back to a time when abortion was illegal and women died because they could not receive the care they deserved.

“Politicians should not be the ones to tell a woman what they can or cannot do with their body. These are important, personal decisions that she should make with her doctor and her family.

“I thank advocates for their continued work to protect the health rights of women across our state.”