Cárdenas Votes to Defend Americans’ Reproductive Health Freedoms
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) voted for bold legislative action to defend women’s health freedom in response to the Supreme Court’s dangerous decision overturning Roe v. Wade – as well as Republicans’ push for a nationwide abortion ban. The Women's Health Protection Act will ensure Americans’ right to make their own health decisions, and the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act will reaffirm the right to freely travel throughout the country to access reproductive care.
Below is a copy of his remarks as prepared for delivery:
“Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Women’s Health Protection Act, and lend my voice to the chorus of cries across this country for urgent action on abortion rights.
“When I first heard the news of the Dobbs decision, it felt as if we were in free fall. How is it that such a fundamental right to autonomy over one’s body, over one’s life, over one’s future, be stripped away so callously?
“We are talking about far-right justices telling women that they cannot get the care they need – telling doctors that they cannot treat their patients to the best of their ability. Yes, these five justices – with no medical expertise – stole the fundamental freedom of controlling the health of one’s own body and opened the floodgates to criminalize doctors for doing their jobs.
“Make no mistake: this is a strain on our healthcare system and a flat-out assault on health equity. And it is a self-inflicted wound. This ruling will leave women, especially women of color and low-income women, in the lurch.
“So, in the absence of any respect or compassion for reproductive health in this country, we as a body must show our leadership. It is incumbent on us as elected officials to ensure that this basic right is restored and finally written into law. The Women’s Health Protection Act would do just that. It would restore 50 years of precedent and right a deeply invasive wrong. History has its eyes on us. I urge my colleagues to vote yes, and I yield back.”
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