Schatz, Duckworth, Senators Introduce Legislation To Protect Reproductive Rights, Expose Violations Globally

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) led a group of 17 senators in introducing the Reproductive Rights Are Human Rights Act, legislation that requires the U.S. State Department to include reproductive rights in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. The State Department omitted reproductive rights from its most recent human rights report released earlier this month, renewing a practice started under the first Trump administration.

“Access to safe and timely reproductive care is an essential right for women and girls around the world, and we ought to know when care is being restricted and rights are being trampled,” said Senator Schatz, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. “Our bill requires the Trump administration to follow the longstanding practice of including reproductive rights as part of annual human rights reports rather than arbitrarily picking and choosing which rights matter.”

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Trade Act of 1974 require the Secretary of State to report to Congress every year on the status of human rights in countries that receive American assistance as well as all United Nations member states. Since 2011, the annual reports have included information on the status of women’s access to reproductive rights.

“As reproductive rights face daily assaults worldwide, our nation should be leading the charge to protect women’s access to basic health care—not undermining it,” said Senator Duckworth. “But Trump and MAGA Republicans’ anti-choice crusade is sending the exact wrong message, and we are already seeing the horrific consequences of it here at home. This legislation makes clear that Senate Democrats understand reproductive rights are human rights. By requiring the Trump Administration to include reproductive rights assessments in its annual human rights reports, we can provide a clearer, more honest picture of any nation’s human rights record—and that’s an important step to take.”

Congress and the private sector rely on the State Department’s reports when considering appropriations requests and making policy and planning decisions. The report is also used by immigration judges and asylum officers to determine the asylum status of women declaring human rights abuses at the U.S. border.

In addition to Schatz and Duckworth, the Reproductive Rights Are Human Rights Act is co-sponsored U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). A companion bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Julie Johnson (D-Texas) and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.).

The bill is endorsed by Advocates for Youth, Guttmacher Institute, Ipas, Reproductive Freedom for All, Population Connection Act Fund, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Friends of the Earth United States, Women’s Refugee Commission, International Center for Research on Women, Center for Reproductive Rights, Catholics for Choice, Oxfam America, Population Institute, PAI, Center for Biological Diversity, FP2030, Amnesty International USA, and Population Council.

“Access to sexual and reproductive health care is a human right — full stop. Amidst the Trump administration's ongoing attacks on foreign aid and access to sexual and reproductive health care around the world, the State Department is now censoring even basic information on the state of reproductive rights. Transparency and accurate data are critical to protect and promote these essential rights. We thank Sens. Brian Schatz and Tammy Duckworth and Reps. Julie Johnson and Sara Jacobs for reintroducing the Reproductive Rights Are Human Rights Act in support of documenting everyone’s human rights, including ability to get the sexual and reproductive health care they need and deserve,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. 

“The Trump administration's removal of reproductive rights from the annual human rights report decimates a critical tool for identifying human rights violations. This move was part of a broader campaign to dismantle the State Department’s human rights infrastructure—marked by mass layoffs of experienced staff, significant delays in releasing human rights reports, and a deliberate effort to suppress key data. We must fight against this attempt to sweep sexual health and rights abuses under the rug, and that begins with demanding accurate, timely information. The Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act will ensure that no matter who is in the White House, this globally relied-on human rights report will include essential data and documentation on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Reproductive rights are human rights, and this legislation prevents extremists from covering up the many ways that governments restrict and violate the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQ people around the world," said Rachana Desai Martin, Chief Program Officer, U.S. Program, Center for Reproductive Rights.

The text of the bill is available here.

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