Protecting the Right to Choose
Press Release
My colleague, Senator Elizabeth Warren, is one of the smartest and most strategic people I know. And she is absolutely right when she says that we cannot fall into hopelessness when there is so much to do right now.
Let's be clear: our House Democratic majority has been working non-stop on specific actions to protect access to a safe, legal abortion for anyone in need. We passed the Women's Health Protection Act earlier this Congress, and this week we will pass an even stronger version, H.R. 8296, that recognizes the damage done by the Dobbs decision. We will also pass the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act (H.R. 8297), which makes it possible and safe for women needing abortion care to travel to states where it is accessible.
These bills could actually become law if we had two more pro-choice votes in the Senate. That is why the stakes for this coming election could not be higher. We MUST elect more pro-choice Democrats to Congress this fall.
Specifically, we need at least two more pro-choice votes in the Senate, and to keep the House in Democratic hands.
You can help! Michigan, Kansas, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are states where our progressive, pro-choice friends need our help today!
Pro-choice Michiganders are working to put an ballot measure on the ballot to expand the right to reproductive freedom, including abortion and contraception, and put it in the state Constitution. Let's help Michigan join Oregon and other states which have already taken this step. And build momentum for other states to do the same.
Advocates for reproductive freedom in Kansas are fighting a ballot measure that would strip existing abortion protections from their state Constitution. This cannot be allowed to happen.
Wisconsin and Pennsylvania residents can make a tremendous impact by electing pro-choice candidates to the Senate. This would be a huge victory for our movement and a giant step towards codifying Roe at the federal level.
We are NOT helpless. Well before the egregious decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, House progressives introduced over a dozen pieces of legislation to defend and strengthen access to abortion and other reproductive services. I am proud to have my name on every one of them:
H.R.345 - Reproductive Health Information for Veterans Act introduced by Rep. Julia Brownley [D-CA-26]
H.R.556 - Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA-13]
H.R.1670 - Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act of 2021 introduced by Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky [D-IL-9]
H.R.2234 - EACH Act of 2021 introduced by Rep.Barbara Lee [D-CA-13]
H.R.3576 - Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act of 2021 introduced by Rep. Katherine M. Clark [D-MA-5]
H.R.3755 - Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 introduced by Rep. Judy Chu [D-CA-27]
H.R.3800 - GLOBE Act of 2021 introduced by Rep. Dina Titus [D-NV-1]
H.R.6005 - Access to Birth Control Act introduced by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney [D-NY-12]
H.R.7585 - Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2022 introduced by Rep. Robin L. Kelly [D-IL-2]
H.R.2709 - Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2021 introduced by Rep. Jackie Speier [D-CA-14]
H.R.239 - Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act introduced by Rep. Julia Brownley [D-CA-26]
The dynamics are clear. The math is simple. Keeping our majority in the House and adding at least two more pro-choice Democrats to the Senate would empower our progressive agenda and clear a path to victory for reproductive freedom for all Americans.
The fight for reproductive freedom is on, and it's happening right now. We're not giving up. We're going all in. We need every voice and every vote. Join us now!
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