WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Gary Peters (D-MI), and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) led over 30 of their colleagues in reintroducing a bicameral resolution honoring abortion providers and staff by designating March 10, 2026 as "Abortion Provider Appreciation Day."

The Abortion Provider Appreciation Day resolution affirms that abortion providers are valued as they provide reproductive care despite pressures, restrictions, political interference, and threats to their personal safety. It also highlights the essential role that these providers play in providing safe access to reproductive care, including abortions. The introduction of this resolution follows a 2024 report by the National Abortion Federation, which shows continued incidences of violence and harassment like stalking and death threats directed at patients, abortion care providers, and volunteers.

"Amidst Trump and Republicans' attacks on our fundamental reproductive rights, I am proud to reintroduce this resolution to honor the bravery of health professionals who provide critical care to thousands of patients across the country and help them even in the face of violence, threats, and intimidation," said Senator Hirono. "As we commemorate Abortion Provider Appreciation Day, we recognize Dr. Gunn's legacy and the crucial and lifesaving care these health care professionals provide and reaffirm our commitment to protecting and securing reproductive rights for all."

"I'm proud to again lead this resolution with Senator Hirono honoring the abortion providers and clinic staff who help women and their families receive the safe, quality health care they need," said Senator Peters. "Despite constant threats and attacks from politicians and judges, they continue to work day in and day out to deliver critical and often lifesaving care. I will never stop fighting to protect these providers and the rights of the women and families that they serve."

"On the 30th commemoration of Abortion Providers Appreciation Day, we honor the courage and care of dedicated health providers who deliver essential reproductive health care to patients, even amid threats to their own personal safety," said Representative Pressley, House Reproductive Freedom Caucus Co-Chair. "Health care professionals and patients alike deserve safety. While Trump and Republicans attack our bodily autonomy and leave patients and clinical staff at grave risk, we continue to fight for the promise of the fundamental right to reproductive freedom."

The resolution was inspired by Dr. David Gunn, an abortion provider who was killed outside his clinic in Pensacola, Florida by a white supremacist and anti-abortion extremist in the first known murder of an abortion provider. To honor his legacy, Abortion Provider Appreciation Day was established on March 10, 1996 as a day to show appreciation for the essential, high-quality care that abortion providers and staff provide to their communities and to celebrate their courage and dedication.

"Thirty three years ago today a cowardly anti-abortion, Christian Nationalist terrorist shot our father in the back three times for the audacious act of getting up and going to work," said Wendy Gunn and David Gunn, Jr., the children of Dr. David Gunn. "Dad endured relentless harassment and traveled over 1000 miles a week visiting patients in three states to ensure those patients had access to safe and legal abortion/reproductive services because he trusted they, not the government or religious zealots, knew what was in their best interests. While we are honored and humbled that Abortion Provider Appreciation Day is celebrated each year on the anniversary of his assassination, we are despondent and angered by the increased obstacles to access to the level of compassionate care he died to preserve. Our family continues to stand with everyone involved in ensuring everyone has access to safe, legal abortion and other reproductive services on demand and without apology."

The Abortion Provider Appreciation Day Resolution demonstrates a commitment to abortion providers and staff by:

• Recognizing March 10, 2026 as "Abortion Provider Appreciation Day" to celebrate the courage of abortion providers and the high-quality care they provide to patients and families across the country;
• Lauding communities who proudly support their abortion providers and staff;
• Affirming the commitment of Congress to ensuring the safety of these health professionals, their ability to continue providing the essential reproductive care their patients need, and the right of patients to access abortion care regardless of where they live, free from violence and threats;
• Condemning the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States to limit abortion care, which had a devastating impact on abortion providers and the communities they care for, threatening their livelihoods; and
• Declaring a vision for a future liberated from all abortion restrictions and bans, and affirming the commitment of Congress to working toward this future with providers, patients, advocates, and their communities.

"Today and every day, we celebrate abortion providers who provide time-sensitive, essential care and mourn those murdered by anti-abortion violence," said Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "In the face of relentless political attacks, disinformation, and harassment, these providers persist in protecting the freedom and health of millions. We are eternally grateful for their selfless commitment to delivering compassionate judgment-free care. Thank you to all the doctors, nurses, clinicians, counselors, and health care staffers for your resilience and dedication to caring for our communities. Planned Parenthood will never stop fighting to ensure that everyone can provide or receive health care and be free from political interference."

"At a time when abortion providers are facing escalating violence, political interference, and the erosion of critical protections like the FACE Act, this resolution is a bright light in an increasingly dark landscape," said Brittany Fonteno, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation. "NAF members-their clinicians, staff, and volunteers-show up every day with extraordinary courage and compassion to deliver vital care, even as they face harassment, threats, and relentless attacks on access. We are deeply grateful to the members of Congress who recognize what we know to be true: abortion providers are essential, and their dedication should always be honored and appreciated."

"Abortion Provider Appreciation Day was originally started to counter an act of white supremacist and anti-abortion violence. Over 30 years later, anti-abortion extremists are still doing everything they can to roll back our rights and access, even resorting to violence, harassment, and criminalization," said Poonam Dreyfus-Pai, Interim Executive Director of the National Network of Abortion Funds. "Abortion funds work with providers on the front lines in their communities every day, despite mountains of barriers, risks, and threats. We must unequivocally support and celebrate everyone who provides abortion care, today and every day. Thank you abortion providers, and thank you to everyone who makes abortion access a reality."

"Today, on the 30th official Abortion Provider Appreciation Day, I'd like to thank Senator Hirono and Congresswoman Pressley for their continued commitment to celebrating the hard work of the clinic staff and clinicians who make abortion care possible amidst ongoing threats and violence," said Dr. Jamila Perritt, OBGYN in Washington DC and President & CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health. "Since the Trump Administration came back into office, we've seen tireless attempts to discredit the decades of research showing the safety and efficacy of abortion care. As ICE infiltrates our communities and our neighborhoods are militarized, as attacks on our transgender community members continue to rise, abortion providers go to work every day because they know that abortion impacts all of us. No matter who we are or where we call home, we are all deserving of being able to practice bodily autonomy. Since the fall of Roe, attacks on abortion haven't stopped. Neither has the steadfast commitment of clinic workers around the country committed to the needs of their communities."

The Abortion Provider Appreciation Day Resolution is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), National Abortion Federation (NAF), National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF), Physicians for Reproductive Health, Reproductive Freedom for All, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), the Guttmacher Institute, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, National Women's Law Center, National Partnership for Women & Families, Power to Decide, Reproductive Freedom for All, Ipas, National Organization for Women, Ibis Reproductive Health, Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equality (URGE), National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF), and the National Organization for Women.

In addition to Senators Hirono and Peters, the resolution is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

In addition to Representative Pressley, the resolution is cosponsored in the House by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Judy Chu (D-CA), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Julie Johnson (D-TX), John Larson (D-CT), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Frederica Wilson (D-FL).

The full text of the resolution is available here.

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