Tuberville Statement on Supreme Court's Final Opinion in Dobbs Case

Press Release

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) today released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its final opinion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case:

"The Supreme Court decision is a victory for life and for Alabamians, like myself, who believe in the protection of the unborn," said Senator Tuberville. "As a Christian, I believe life begins at conception, and that's why I signed a "friend of the court' brief in support of this law. This case reignited a discussion on the important role of the American family in our country and the need to protect life at every stage. I hope we don't let this passion stop here, and we continue to discuss how we can protect the unborn and help vulnerable mothers."

"After months of a disgraceful public pressure campaign and failed efforts from Democrats to force their extreme and unpopular abortion-on-demand agenda on the American people, I'm glad the Court didn't bow to outside pressure and maintained their judicial independence."

Senator Tuberville has previously spoken about the Mississippi law at the center of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case and how the Court's ruling will impact pro-Life policies.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Tuberville continues to champion pro-Life values by taking action to protect the God-given rights of the unborn. A few examples of these actions include supporting the sanctity of life by signing on to a friend of the court brief in support of the Mississippi law; supporting the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, which would prohibit the use of federal funds for abortion or health coverage that includes abortion; and joining his colleagues in cosponsoring the Life at Conception Act, which would declare that unborn children are persons under the 14th Amendment.

The U.S. Supreme Court's majority opinion on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization upholds the Mississippi state law and overturns Roe v. Wade. Overturning Roe v. Wade returns the power to individual states to make their own laws regarding limitations on abortion. At the center of the Dobbs case was a Mississippi state law that prohibits abortions after fifteen weeks except in a medical emergency and in cases of "severe fetal abnormality." Under Roe, pre-viability abortion bans like this one were considered unconstitutional. This means that federal law prevented any state from seeking to stop abortions before a baby is viable, unless the mother's life or health is in danger. However, since Roe was decided in 1973, the definition of viability changed due to medical and scientific advances. We now know that unborn children have arms, legs, and fully developed hearts at fifteen weeks.

On May 2nd, a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion on the Mississippi abortion case was leaked to the press. Almost immediately, Senate Democrats took the opportunity to attack the Court and individual justices, demonstrating a complete lack of respect for the Court's judicial independence. Senator Tuberville spoke out about Democrats weaponizing the leak, which runs counter to America's core values. Soon thereafter, Senate Democrats demanded a vote on the Women's Health Protection Act, legislation that would allow for late-term and sex-selective abortions, and eliminate longstanding protections for religiously affiliated health care providers; but it failed by a vote of 49 to 51. As tensions continued to mount following the leaked draft opinion, Senator Tuberville joined with his colleagues to pass the Police Parity Act to provide Supreme Court Justices with increased security in response to violent threats and murder attempts.

The United States' current position on abortion does not reflect international mainstream standards. The United States is 1 of 7 nations, including China and North Korea, that allow for abortion on demand beyond the point babies can feel pain. 47 out of 50 European nations limit abortion at 15 weeks or earlier. Additionally, the majority of Americans support pro-life protections. When asked, 71% of Americans support significant limits on abortion and 80% of Americans believe that third trimester abortions should be illegal.

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