Category: Policy Updates

Policy Updates, Uncategorized

Here’s why childcare is in danger in South Carolina 

Sep 18, 2023

A federally funded program that supported stabilizing the childcare industry during the COVID pandemic is coming to an end on September 30. Without this money, South Carolina’s childcare providers may struggle to stay open for business.    The Background   The American Rescue Plan (ARP) provided childcare programs in our state, and across the nation, with funding

News, Policy Updates

Abortion is still legal up to 22 weeks in South Carolina!

May 31, 2023

BIG NEWS: The 6-week abortion ban that passed the South Carolina General Assembly has been BLOCKED by a judge, and abortion is still legal up to 22 weeks in South Carolina! Last week was a very tough week, but we ended it with a sense of relief, gratitude, and determination for the ongoing fight ahead. 

Policy Updates

It’s the Final Countdown!

by WREN Staff on Apr 21, 2023

It’s the final countdown to the end of the first year of South Carolina’s two-year legislative session. We have been working incredibly hard all session long, and need your help to finish this year strong! With 9 legislative days left, here’s what’s left on our list: 3 bad bills to defeat 2 great bills to

News, Policy Updates

Update: South Carolina’s Anti-Abortion bill H.5399 ends

by WREN Staff on Nov 10, 2022

Yesterday, South Carolina representatives decided to PAUSE discussing abortion until next year’s legislative session. This decision happened after months of protesting and advocating against banning abortion in SC. What does this mean? The debates on anti-abortion bill H.5399 have ended but discussions on banning abortion have not! We will still advocate for access to abortion

Health and Education, Policy Updates

H.5399 Sent to Conference Committee

by Ashley Lidow on Oct 24, 2022

After months of protests and objections by health care providers, advocates, and the majority of South Carolinians, the South Carolina Legislature is still pushing to pass H.5399.     On Tuesday, October 18, the Senate voted to “insist” on their version of H.5399. Now the bill will be sent to a conference committee made up of 3

News, Policy Updates

WREN Rejects ALL bans on abortion 

by WREN Staff on Sep 27, 2022

Lawmakers in South Carolina are still debating on what access to abortion looks like in the state. Today, the state’s House of Representatives voted to non-concur with the current draft of H. 5399, which would ban abortion in the state.   H. 5399 will now be discussed by a conference committee. This committee will be

Policy Updates

H. 5399 Moves to SC Senate- Details to take action!

by Ashley Lidow on Sep 2, 2022

After thousands of South Carolinians raised their voice in opposition and hundreds packed the statehouse the House of Representative passed an extreme abortion ban on August 30. This means that H.5399 will now go to the Senate for debate. South Carolina already has an extreme abortion law on the books and while it was in

News, Policy Updates

South Carolina Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Six-Week Abortion Ban

by Planned Parenthood on Aug 18, 2022

**This is a reposted press release from Planned Parenthood South Atlantic South Carolina Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Six-Week Abortion Ban  COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, in a unanimous order, the South Carolina Supreme Court blocked the state’s ban on abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy (Senate Bill 1), granting providers’ emergency motion for a temporary injunction

News, Policy Updates, Uncategorized

Pro-Abortion Advocates Take Action Against Ban in Charleston

by WREN STAFF on Aug 17, 2022

Pro-Abortion Advocates Take Action Against Ban in Charleston CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – As South Carolina legislators debated a total ban on abortion in the statehouse today, reproductive justice advocates gathered in their communities to stand together in the fight for abortion access for all. The Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN) held an abortion advocate

News, Policy Updates, Uncategorized

WREN Testimony in Opposition to Abortion Ban 

by WREN Staff on Aug 17, 2022

WREN’s CEO Ann Warner testified during the August 17 Senate  Medical Affairs Committee: Thank you, Chairman Verdin, for the opportunity to address the Senate Medical Affairs Committee today. My name is Ann Warner, and I am the CEO of WREN, a South Carolina-based non-partisan non-profit organization with a mission to build a movement to advance