The Vermont debate comes at the same time as some Republican-led legislatures across the country are poised to further restrict abortions or ban them outright.
Lawmakers in the Vermont House of Representatives approved a proposal Tuesday to amend the state constitution that protects reproductive rights, including abortion.
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MONTPELIER â The House of Representatives gave final passage Wednesday to a resolution declaring racism a public health emergency, but not without some fireworks.
The resolution, JRH 6, passed 135-8 on a roll call vote, following impassioned statements in favor of passage.
JRH 6, sponsored by Rep. Brian Cina, P-Chittenden 6-4, cites racial discrepancies in health outcomes among BIPOC Vermonters including a much higher rate of COVID-19 cases, higher rates of mental health issues, lower incomes and higher poverty rates, as reasons the Legislature should treat racism as a health emergency.
It declares âthat racism constitutes a public health emergency in Vermontâ and commits the Legislature to âthe sustained and deep work of eradicating systemic racism throughout the State, actively fighting racist practices, and participating in the creation of more just and equitable systems.â
AP
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MONTPELIER, Vt. The Vermont House of Representatives passed a resolution Wednesday declaring that racism is a public health emergency.
The House voted 135-8 in favor of the non-binding resolution, which still must be passed by the Senate to be adopted.
The resolution says that systemic racism affecting public health impacts economic, employment, education, housing and health opportunities and outcomes of minority populations, even in Vermont.
It also says the covid-19 pandemic has worsened those inequities, and Black and Latino people are three times as likely as white people to die of the disease.