Democrats Reintroduce Bill To Protect Abortion As Reproductive Rights Are Under Attack

Democrats are reintroducing laws to guard individuals’s entry to abortion, simply as Republicans on the state-level push dozens of payments making an attempt to restrict entry to reproductive rights and the Supreme Court is about to think about a pivotal case. 

The Women’s Health Protection Act, first launched by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in 2013, would block states from imposing restrictions on abortion that make it more durable for pregnant individuals to entry care. It would defend each an individual’s proper to find out in the event that they need to proceed a being pregnant, and well being suppliers’ capability to supply reproductive well being care companies. 

In a press conference Tuesday, Blumenthal warned that Republican lawmakers have introduced over 500 measures on the state stage looking for to limit entry to abortion, noting that the “pace has accelerated” lately.

“What we’ve seen is an unprecedented assault on a woman’s right to decide whether to continue a pregnancy,” Blumenthal stated, calling the state-level limitations an “attack on women’s health care.” 

In Texas, as an illustration, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed an excessive abortion legislation final month, successfully banning the process at six weeks into being pregnant, earlier than many individuals even know they’re pregnant. And in Oklahoma, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a invoice that will revoke the medical license of medical doctors who carry out abortions except it’s to guard the mom’s life.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is about to think about a pivotal case on a Mississippi ban on abortions past 15 weeks of being pregnant, marking the primary time the nation’s highest courtroom will take into account an abortion ban because the landmark Roe v. Wade choice of 1973.   

Blumenthal warned that the conservative-leaning courtroom’s choice may “not only chip away, but potentially overrule Roe v. Wade — at the very least, do profound damage to it.” 

The Women’s Health Protection Act, first launched by Blumenthal in 2013, has repeatedly been reintroduced in new congressional classes since. So far within the present Congress, the invoice has 176 co-sponsors within the House and 45 co-sponsors within the Senate. While Democrats maintain a majority within the House, such contentious laws will face more durable odds within the tightly divided Senate. 

In Tuesday’s digital presser, co-sponsor Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) famous that restrictions on abortion disproportionately impression low-income ladies and girls of shade. 

“It’s a sad fact that in this country, if you are white, rich, well-connected, abortion will always be available to you,” Chu stated. “But we need [this legislation] to ensure that no matter where you live, what your background is … you have the same rights to make decisions about your own body as anyone else.”