Shusterman votes to advance reproductive healthcare bills out of committee
Rep. Melissa Shusterman October 22, 2025 | 12:56 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 22 – State Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D-Chester, announced today that she voted to advance multiple bills that PA House Democrats have introduced to safeguard reproductive health care, including abortion, out of the House Judiciary Committee.
Shusterman’s H.B. 2005 was one of the seven approved by the committee. Her legislation would remove the 24-hour waiting period and additional counseling requirements for women seeking an abortion in Pennsylvania.
“These requirements create unnecessary obstacles and often deter pregnant individuals from accessing abortion care,” Shusterman said. “The waiting period requirement forces women seeking care to make multiple trips to a clinic or health care provider. Patients find this requirement to be financially burdensome, as it requires them to take additional time off work, arrange childcare, and incur the expenses involved with traveling a long distance.”
Other bills that Shusterman voted “yes” to advance out of the committee include:
- H.B. 670: Adopts the FACE Act bill for state law to protect abortion clinics and patients from harassment.
- H.B. 1640: Provides protection of reproductive services records from disclosure in PA civil/criminal actions and investigations.
- H.B. 1641: Instructs insurance companies to not take adverse action against healthcare providers who offer reproductive services to out-of-state-residents.
- H.B. 1643: Would prohibit PA courts from enforcing other states' judgements in cases involving reproductive healthcare services.
- H.B. 1957: Proposes an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution, providing for personal reproductive liberty.
- H.B. 1966: Would prohibit Pennsylvania courts from cooperating with out-of-state civil and criminal cases involving reproductive healthcare services.
All these bills now go to the full state House for consideration.
“Abortion is a safe, legal, and sometimes a life-saving medical procedure, and it must be accessible for all who need it,” Shusterman said. “These bills are steps toward removing burdens that pregnant women face when accessing abortion care.”