Stephanie Schmid Will Be an Advocate for Reproductive Healthcare

After 39 years of Chris Smith trying to control women’s bodies, it’s long past time for new representation. Stephanie Schmid is the answer.

Smith has voted to restrict access to and allow employers to fire women who use birth control. He’s against anything that prevents implantation, meaning the IUD and pill are potentially unacceptable “abortifacients.”

Smith sponsored a bill expanding a ban on federal funds for abortion that only allowed exceptions in cases of “forcible rape.” This means Smith only views rape as “real” if survivors are beaten.
Additionally, statutory rape was never included as “forcible rape,” so Smith would have held underage girls accountable to the consequences of an assault by requiring them to carry their rapist’s baby.

Anti-abortionists tried to justify this by saying statutory rape cases are just teenage girls with slightly older boyfriends. Statistics show that in about 40% of cases, the victim is 15 or 14 and the rapist 21 or older. Half of those assailants will be 25 or older. Victims under 14 have assailants 21 or older 38% of the time.

These aren’t “relationships,” they are assaults. Minors cannot give consent, but for Smith it didn’t matter.

Stephanie Schmid is challenging Smith for his seat. She worked for the Center for Reproductive Rights, and developed the “Reproductive Rights are Human Rights” Act. She understands the harm that Smith’s repressive policies cause women and girls in the US and abroad, and she will be a fierce advocate for protecting a woman’s bodily autonomy.