ACLU Statement on the U.S. House Passing Historic Legislation to Protect Abortion Access

WASHINGTON — After the Supreme Court allowed Texas’ extreme abortion ban to take effect, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) today, historic legislation to protect abortion access nationwide. WHPA would offer a federal safeguard against attacks on abortion access — establishing a statutory right for health care providers to provide, and for patients to receive, abortion care free from medically unnecessary restrictions and bans that single out abortion and impede access. While other states consider Texas copycat bills and the nation’s highest court is set to consider a direct challenge to the precedent established by Roe v. Wade, this comes at a critical time in the fight for reproductive freedom.

Statement from Georgeanne Usova, senior legislative counsel, ACLU:

“With our right to abortion in jeopardy across the country, the House has taken a historic leap forward in passing this critical legislation to protect access to care for everyone in the country, no matter where they live. For decades, politicians have attacked abortion access bit by bit, pushing care out of reach for countless people — particularly people of color and those struggling to make ends meet who face the greatest barriers to accessing essential health care. Texas has made clear the end-goal of these attacks: to ban abortion and force people to carry pregnancies against their will. Now that the House has taken this urgently needed action, the Senate must quickly follow suit.”

The ACLU is scoring the vote on passage of WHPA in the organization’s congressional scorecard, available online here.