Moments after it was announced on Friday that the United States Supreme Court would overturn Roe versus Wade, members of the Austin City Council, including Jose “Chito” Vela and Vanessa Fuentes, called for a special meeting to pass the GRACE Act, which stands for “Guarding the Right to Abortion Care for Everyone.” Vela drafted and submitted the resolution, which is co-sponsored by Council Members Vanessa Fuentes, Paige Ellis, and Kathie Tovo, and Mayor Steve Adler.
The GRACE Act is a policy recommendation in 2 parts:
- City funds shouldn’t be used to surveil, catalog, report, or investigate abortion.
- Police should make investigating abortion their lowest priority.
“We know this resolution is legally sound, and Austin is not alone in this fight,” said CM Vela. “We are working with several other cities who are equally horrified by the prospect of an abortion ban and want to do everything they can to protect their residents.”
Julie Oliver, Executive Director of Ground Game Texas, says sees value in building a coalition as well. “In Texas, local leaders must make clear that we value every American’s right to privacy and bodily autonomy. That’s why we’re urging city councils across the state to ratify solutions that would decriminalize abortion care and ensure no city resources, including law enforcement, are used to investigate and prosecute reproductive care.”
The GRACE Act is expected to go before the Austin City Council sometime in July.
