Senator Murray Announces State of the Union Guest: Kayla Smith, Former Idaho Resident Who Received Lifesaving Abortion Care in Seattle and Now Resides in Washington State

Statement

"Kayla Smith knows better than anyone the cruelty of Republicans' anti-abortion agenda, and the chaos and anguish Republicans are creating for families in states where abortion is banned--because she's lived it.We have to speak up at every opportunity and continue doing everything in our power to shine a light on the horrific consequences of Republican abortion bans that have ripped away a woman's right to make her own health care decisions. Since the Dobbs decision, Washington's status as a safe harbor state where abortion is legal and protected has meant our state has absorbed a major uptick in out-of-state patients forced to travel for abortion care--patients like Kayla. Kayla's bravery in coming forward to speak out and tell her story--while at the same time fighting Idaho's abortion ban--is inspiring, and I look forward to having her by my side at the State of the Union Address.

When it comes to abortion, women will not be silent and we will not be ignored. Everyone in America needs to know what happened to Kayla--and they need to understand that what happened to her in Idaho could happen to any woman in any state if Republicans succeed in passing their national abortion ban, which Donald Trump has made clear he supports. President Biden and Vice President Harris have done more to fight for abortion rights than any other administration, because they understand that women must be able to make decisions about their pregnancies without Republican politicians getting in the way. That is a message I look forward to hearing from President Biden at this year's State of the Union Address as we continue to fight back against Republican attacks on women's rights and work to restore the right to abortion nationwide."

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