CONGRESSMAN DEFAZIO STATEMENT ON LEAKED DRAFT SUPREME COURT RULING TO STRIKE DOWN ROE V. WADE
Press Release
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio today released the following statement in response to a leaked draft U.S. Supreme Court ruling which would overturn a half-century of precedent under Roe v. Wade that protects a woman's right to choose to have an abortion.
"Last night, press leaked a draft Supreme Court decision on the Mississippi Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case. If enacted, this ruling would have a profound impact on American life, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion established nearly 50 years ago under Roe v. Wade.
"This is not an official decision, the Supreme Court has not ruled on this case. Abortion is still legal. For now.
"Let me be clear: the government has no place in deciding for a woman what she chooses to do with her own body. The decision to end a pregnancy, for whatever reason, is an intensely personal decision that can be only made by a woman and her spouse, companion, minister, physician, or whatever counsel she chooses, after considering all the available options and her unique circumstance.
"This news is devastating and overturning Roe would be a dramatic change in how the Supreme Court considers precedent. It will fuel our engagement and motivate us to protect this fundamental right. The facts have not changed--an overwhelming majority of Americans oppose overturning Roe v. Wade.
"In September, the House passed the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), to make Roe the law of the land. The Senate must take action on this bill.
"This news reveals a larger strategy beyond dismantling Roe. It lays a foundation for a future Republican Congress and president not just to leave abortion rights up to states, but establish an outright ban on abortion and contraception nationwide. Though Oregon is considered one of the safest places in the nation to seek an abortion and our state officials have done an excellent job of enacting laws that protect this well-established right, if abortion is banned at a federal level, our state protections will be voided.
"Beyond Roe, this decision, if enacted would lay the groundwork for attacks on other fundamental rights codified by the Supreme Court such as same sex marriage, and perhaps others. Behind this draft decision is a broad and long-term strategy by a right-wing movement to limit the rights of Americans in favor of their narrow special interest and well-connected support groups.
"This right-wing campaign is built on upholding antiquated and anti-democratic structures that impede the will of the majority and allow an extremist minority to wield power. It's time to eliminate the filibuster, which allowed Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell to block President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland. Yet McConnell later eliminated the filibuster to approve President Trump's right-wing nominee, Justice Neil Gorsuch, by way of a simple majority. Furthermore, the filibuster is currently blocking the Women's Health Protection Act from becoming law.
"It's also time to get rid of the Electoral College, which facilitated the election of two presidents who did not win the popular vote but who appointed conservative justices who could make this draft ruling a reality--George W. Bush appointed Justices Alito and Roberts and Donald Trump appointed 3 conservative justices that changed the balance of power on the court.
"Every American has the power of the vote. Every American has agency. Let's leverage them, empowered by the Constitution, and protect the freedoms and rights we hold dear."
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