Rep Speier Statement on SCOTUS June Medical Services Ruling Affirming Abortion Rights

Statement

Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), Co-Chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus and a Pro-Choice Caucus Task Force Chair, released the following statement in response to today's U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision affirming women's constitutional rights to abortion.

"Today's June Medical Services ruling is a victory affirming that women have a constitutional right to abortion and anti-choice politicians must stop weaponizing women's bodies for their own partisan gain. I and the one in four women who have had an abortion can speak from experience: abortion care is essential, and you cannot control your own destiny without having control over your own body," Rep. Speier said. "We can breathe a sigh of relief, but we cannot become complacent. Already, one in three women of reproductive age lives in a state where abortion could be outlawed if Roe is overturned. Since 2011, right-wing anti-abortion politicians have passed 450 laws restricting access for medically unnecessary reasons. Louisiana's abortion clinics can keep their doors open, but 16 other cases on abortion access are still one step away from the Supreme Court."

"Republican legislators were not deterred when the Supreme Court scrutinized an identical admitting privileges law in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt in 2016, and we have every reason to believe they will continue their onslaught of attacks against women's fundamental reproductive freedoms until abortion is completely out of reach for all, as is the case for many poor women and women of color." Rep. Speier added. "Our rights should be bedrock, not subject to the whims of the courts or legislators hostile toward women's rights. That's why Congress must pass the Women's Health Protection Act immediately to defend abortion access nationwide and stop these horrendous and fundamentally anti-woman bans."

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