Rep. Peter Welch's Statement on Draft Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade

Statement

"Reports of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will be the greatest infringement of freedom for women in generations.

In overturning Roe, the Court will profoundly restrict the Constitutional rights of women. Twenty-six states are likely to ban abortion outright when this decision becomes final in the coming months, leaving millions without access to safe and necessary medical care.

The draft opinion by the Court's conservative majority -- a majority made possible by the court packing tactics of former President Trump and Mitch McConnell -- is a cruel and brutal restriction of rights.

But it is important to remember that this decision is not final, and abortion is legal today. It must remain so. We cannot allow the Supreme Court to jeopardize the health of millions of Americans.

Congress must codify the right to abortion into law. The House has passed the Women's Health Protection Act, and the Senate must do so as well. This will require the Senate to abolish the filibuster. They can and must do so without delay.

I am grateful to the Vermont legislature for working to make reproductive freedom a state constitutional right. I support their efforts and the upcoming Prop 5 ballot initiative to make this a reality in Vermont. If you share my belief that we cannot go backwards, now is the time to stand up and speak out to protect a woman's right to choose."

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