Congressman Schiff on Senate Failure to Pass Women’s Health Protection Act
“Last week, a draft opinion by the Supreme Court's conservative majority revealed a partisan court is poised to strike down Roe v. Wade, effectively outlawing abortion in more than half the country and opening the door to a nationwide ban. The opinion threatens reproductive health care and freedom for millions of women, and directly contradicts the sworn testimony of justices who, during their confirmation hearings, indicated under oath that they would uphold the precedent set forth by Roe. It would be catastrophic for every American who values the freedom to make personal health care decisions.
“Congress has the power to codify Roe into federal law, which the House did back in September. We can protect abortion access nationwide, which the vast majority of Americans support. Yet in this perilous moment, Senate Republicans have shown us where they stand: With Republican state legislators across the country who are seizing on the opportunity to roll back the clock on reproductive rights and criminalize health care.
“But House Democrats won't back down from this fight. Too much is at stake. We will take the anguish, anger, fear, and resolve we have seen from the American people over this past week, and continue forging ahead on their behalf. It is not too late to stop this vicious assault on the freedom to make health care decisions – it is time to lead, not lament.”
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