Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick and Representative Espaillat Reintroduce Resolution Urging Reproductive Justice as a Fundamental Freedom
WASHINGTON, DC – This week, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) and Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) reintroduced their resolution condemning attacks from extreme Republicans on reproductive rights and reaffirming their commitment to advancing reproductive justice and judicial reform.
"Last Congress, my Democratic colleagues and I firmly demonstrated to the American people that we value women's right to choose. By mostly party-line votes, House Democrats passed consequential legislation such as the Women's Health Protection Act and the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act. These pieces of legislation aimed to protect access to abortion at the federal level in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's unprecedented decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Unfortunately, at the start of the 118th Congress, House Republicans are doubling down on their commitment to criminalize abortion by launching new attacks on women's reproductive freedom. Instead of building upon the progress made by House Democrats during the 117th Congress, extreme MAGA Republicans have put forth an agenda with the intent to impose their will on the people—especially women," said Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick.
"Abortion bans are misogynistic and discriminatory. Such bans disproportionately impact those already experiencing barriers to health care—younger, disadvantaged, and African American women, as these groups are more likely to seek an abortion. If my Republican colleagues truly cared about women and their reproductive health, they would focus more on ensuring women had better access to care rather than criminalizing women and their doctors. I proudly support this resolution because today and every day, House Democrats stand in solidarity with women," she concluded.
"During our first week in Congress, we have witnessed extreme MAGA Republicans launch new attacks on women’s reproductive freedom, part of House Republicans’ commitment to criminalizing abortion nationwide with no exceptions," said Rep. Espaillat.
"Many Americans are already suffering under the horrifying consequences of Republicans’ agenda: women denied lifesaving care, health care providers under attack, and new laws that punish women and those who help them. While House Republicans try to criminalize abortion, we join our Democratic colleagues to fight for reproductive freedom and are reintroducing our resolution today to reaffirm that access to abortion constitutes access to health care and is a fundamental liberty," he continued.
The resolution is co-sponsored by Reps. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Jesús “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Grace Meng (NY-06), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Danny K Davis (IL-07), Brian Higgins (NY-26), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Andre' Carson (IN-07), Judy Chu (CA-28), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), David Trone (MD-06), Dina Titus (NV-01), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), and Jahana Hayes (CT-05).
The Espaillat-Cherfilus-McCormick resolution:
1. Condemns the restless and newly constituted Supreme Court’s holding in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization;
2. Commits to utilizing constitutional authorities provided to Congress under Article III of the Constitution to enact judicial reform, helping reassure public confidence in the Supreme Court so that it is not viewed as a partisan institution.
3. Commits to ensuring that Federal law advances reproductive justice, recognizing that access to abortion constitutes access to health care as a fundamental liberty of all human beings.
4. Commits to protecting communities that will be disproportionately impacted by the holding in Dobbs, including women of color, undocumented women, women living in poverty, LGBTQIA+ individuals, gender nonconforming individuals, and individuals with disabilities.
5. Urges the Executive Branch to utilize constitutional authorities and a whole-of-government approach to advance reproductive justice.
Click here to read the Espaillat-Cherfilus-McCormick resolution in its entirety.