Bean Town Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s devastating decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8), Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) author Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Diana DeGette (CO-1) and Barbara Lee (CA-12), Democratic Women's Caucus Chair Lois Frankel (FL-21), and Members of the House Democratic Caucus to announce a discharge petition that would force a Floor vote on WHPA. Below is a transcript of her remarks:

“Thank you to Leader Jeffries, to our co-chairs of the Pro-Choice Caucus, to the entire Caucus, and all of my colleagues and advocates here for your leadership – for spearheading our fight for the freedom of Americans to make their own health care decisions. Not a decision to be made by the GOP. Not by judges. It should be made by women. By families. In consultation with their doctor. In guidance with their faith

“And for one year, we have seen that freedom be trampled on by extremists. For one year, they have punished women and girls for the crime of needing basic health care. Clinics are boarding up. Doctors, OB-GYNs are choosing other careers – they are afraid to do their jobs. And it's everyday Americans who are paying the price. 

“Americans like Amanda Zurawski of Texas. She was 18 weeks pregnant when her water broke, and there was nothing that could be done to save the pregnancy. And her doctors had to tell her that they could not perform the abortion care that she needed and that she had to go home and wait for infection to set in. So she did, and it did. And it cost her time in the ICU. It almost took her life. And she has been unable to get pregnant since. 

“This is the state of the United States of America right now. But the Women's Health Protection Act will ensure that abortion care is once again the law of the land – that access is restored. It will kick politicians out of our doctors' offices and will enshrine into law the truth that Americans already know: that they deserve the freedom to make their own health care decisions. 

“This bill deserves a vote on the Floor – put the votes on the Floor. I don't know how my colleagues are going to go home for 4th of July celebrations and talk about freedom and equality and liberty, knowing that it would take only eight of them to come join us and sign this discharge petition.

“But whatever it is that they choose, House Democrats and the American people will not rest until we get this done and restore the freedom that families, women, and the people of this great country deserve.”

For event photos, click HERE. To watch the full press conference, click HERE. 

Original source can be found here.