Lansing, MI – On Nov 3rd, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued the following statement following a new report that shows Michigan will have the third highest number of maternal deaths in the country if abortion is banned. The only states where more women are expected to die if abortion is banned are Florida and Texas. Right now, Michigan’s 1931 total abortion ban is not in effect thanks to Governor Whitmer’s lawsuit. Michigan Republicans, including those in the legislature, have defended the abortion ban in court. 

“This report underscores the horrifying reality that a staggering number of Michigan women will die if our state’s 1931 abortion ban goes into effect. Simply put: the ban will kill moms and women who become pregnant. 

“Access to reproductive health care saves lives. That’s why I have been fighting like hell to ensure that every Michigander has control over their own body and can start a family if and when they are ready. If our extreme 1931 law banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest and criminalizing nurses and doctors goes into effect, we will have one of the highest numbers of maternal deaths in the country with an increase of 25% -- and even higher for Black women. We need to use every tool in our toolbox to protect women’s health and fight back against any efforts to take away our fundamental rights.” 

Governor Whitmer’s Actions to Protect Reproductive Freedom 

April 7: Filed a lawsuit to ask the Michigan Supreme Court to immediately resolve whether Michigan’s constitution protects the right to an abortion. 

April 7: Penned an op-ed in the Detroit Free Press explaining her action and highlighting that 7 in 10 Michiganders support the rights affirmed by Roe. 

May 3: Joined 16 other states to urge the United States Senate to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act and enshrine Roe’s protections in federal law. 

May 9: Penned an op-ed in the New York Times explaining why she isn’t waiting for Congress to act and urging fellow pro-choice governors, state representatives, private businesses, and citizens to take action to protect reproductive rights. 

May 25:Signed an executive directive instructing state of Michigan departments and agencies to identify and assess opportunities to increase protections for reproductive healthcare, such as contraception. The executive directive also instructs departments not to cooperate with or assist authorities of any state in any investigation or proceeding against anyone for obtaining, providing, or assisting someone else to obtain or provide reproductive healthcare that is legal where the health care is provided. 

June 23: Launched a new consumer website to educate Michiganders about the availability of no-cost contraception with most insurance plans. 

June 24:On the day of the Dobbs decision, filed a motion urging the Court to immediately consider her lawsuit. 

June 27: Followed up with an additional notice to the Court urging them to immediately consider her lawsuit. 

June 29: Sent a letter to Michigan’s insurers urging them to take steps to ensure Michiganders have coverage for reproductive health care to the fullest extent possible under current coverage. 

July 6: Joined with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to launch a public effort to educate Michiganders and health care providers about the difference between emergency contraception and medication abortion. The public effort will disseminate information about the differences between medication abortion and emergency contraception to all local health departments throughout Michigan, healthcare providers throughout the state, and the public. 

July 7:Called on the federal government to clarify and protect Michiganders’ right to cross the US-Canada border to seek reproductive health care or prescription medication including medication abortion. 

July 11: Urged President Biden to make birth control available over the counter without a prescription. 

July 13: Signed an executive order refusing to extradite women or health care providers who come to Michigan seeking reproductive freedom. 

July 22: Called on FDA to reduce barriers to medication abortion. 

August 1: Secured a restraining order blocking certain county prosecutors from enforcing the 1931 abortion ban after a court cleared a path for them to do so earlier on the same day. 

August 3: Went to court to defend the restraining order and won. 

August 4: Filed renewed request with Michigan Supreme Court to protect right to abortion. 

August 4: Submitted legal brief to prevent enforcement of extreme 1931 abortion ban. 

August 10: Filed motion for a preliminary injunction against 1931 abortion ban in Oakland County Circuit Court. 

August 19: Won a preliminary injunction against the 1931 abortion ban, protecting legal abortion in Michigan until the Michigan Supreme Court takes up the governor’s lawsuit or Michiganders vote to protect women’s fundamental rights. 

August 29: Expanded access to birth control to 200,000 Michiganders covered by MPSERS non-Medicare plans. 

August 31: Called on big tech to protect data and digital privacy in light of report of law enforcement using personal health data to go after women seeking reproductive care. 

September 19: Announced that pharmacists in the state of Michigan are eligible to prescribe hormonal birth control in partnership with doctors, expanding access to birth control.

November 2: Announced new protocols to ensure EMS responders receive sexual assault training and permit carry of emergency contraception.