Gender Justice Group Says Democrats Who Voted to Protect the Filibuster and Block the Legislation Are Collaborators with Anti-Democratic Republicans Seeking to Strip Women of Reproductive Rights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, February 28, 2022
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com
UltraViolet on the Senate’s Failure to Pass the Women’s Health Protection Act
Gender Justice Group Says Democrats Who Voted to Protect the Filibuster and Block the Legislation Are Collaborators with Anti-Democratic Republicans Seeking to Strip Women of Reproductive Rights
WASHINGTON, DC — Moments ago, the Women’s Health Protection Act, landmark legislation to protect the right to abortion throughout the United States by creating a right for healthcare providers to provide abortion care and a corresponding right for people to receive that care, free from bans and medically unnecessary restrictions, failed in a procedural vote in the US Senate. This is the first time legislation has been brought before the US Senate that would enshrine a right to abortion into federal law.
In reaction to the vote, Bridget Todd, Communications Director at UltraViolet, a leading national gender justice organization, issued the following statement:
“For too long, we have relied on the Courts to ensure our right to safe and legal abortion – and we have watched as these protections have been undermined by anti-democratic institutions like the US Senate. Make no mistake, Republicans in the Senate, and in State legislatures have passed increasingly extreme restrictions on abortion in a dangerous race to the bottom.
“We must push back in defense of fundamental rights
“Now is the time for Democrats to have the courage to stand up and enshrine abortion access in federal law, and to stop anti-choice politicians across the country from enacting intentionally burdensome and down-right cruel restrictions and bans. All Americans deserve the best possible medical care, no matter where they live – that includes access to abortion care free of crusading politicians playing political football with women’s lives and futures.
“The failure to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act is a sad reminder that our rights are under attack – and that only political courage can protect them. We need our democratic institutions to protect our rights – not serve the interest of arcane rules. Thanks to today’s procedural vote we know which Senators deserve support and those who are aligned withRepublican extremists to let the anti-democratic rules of the Senate dictate the rights of people who need to access abortion around the country.”
Last Fall, more than 300,000 people sent petition signatures to Congress in support of the Women’s Health Protection Act.
The total amount of petition signatures are a combined total from UltraViolet, MoveOn, NARAL Pro-Choice America, MomsRising, Catholics for Choice, and National Council of Jewish Women.
VIEW THE ULTRAVIOLET PETITION HERE
VIEW THE MOVEON PETITION HERE
VIEW THE NARAL PETITION HERE
VIEW THE MOMSRISING PETITION HERE
VIEW THE CATHOLICS FOR CHOICE AND NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN PETITION HERE.
# # # # #