Author: Stephanie

On Wednesday, January 17, Senate Democrats held a briefing in the United States Senate to illuminate the state of abortion rights in America, the chaos and cruelty of state abortion bans, and the need to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act. The briefing was co-hosted by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).

Watch a clip from the hearing here.

The Senators were joined by three powerful panelists who shared their expertise on the state of crisis for abortion access across the country: Dr. Austin Dennard, OB/GYN and one of the patient plaintiffs in a lawsuit ; Dr. Serina Floyd, Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington DC, and Jessica Valenti, feminist writer and author of Abortion, Every Day.

“Our Women’s Health Protection Act, which I am proud to lead, would guarantee doctors the freedom to provide abortion care and give patients the ability to receive the abortion care they need everywhere across the country.”

— Senator Baldwin

One year after the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to abortion, U.S. House members called on their colleagues to join them in restoring abortion rights and access across the country by supporting the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA).

The call came at a press conference held June 23 at the U.S. Capitol, where abortion rights supporters—including U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries; Representatives Diana DeGette, Barbara Lee, Judy Chu, Katherine Clark, Lois Frankel, and Pete Aguilar; and Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi—spoke about the urgent need to pass WHPA, which would re-establish a nationwide right to abortion.

“We will stand up for reproductive freedom forever,” said Minority Leader Jeffries. “And we will continue to show up, and speak up, and stand up, until the Women’s Health Protection Act is the law of the land.”

On June 21, House members filed a discharge petition to bring WHPA to a vote on the House floor. The petition garnered a historic 211 signatures in just two days, demonstrating tremendous congressional support for abortion rights and access. In order for WHPA to receive a vote, the petition needs 218 signatures.

A coalition comprised of 339 legal professionals including lawyers, judges, law students and bar association members are urging Congress to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), a federal legislation that would re-establish a right to abortion nationwide.  Read the full letter here.

On Thursday, March 30, members of the U.S. Congress reintroduced the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA): federal legislation to re-establish a nationwide right to abortion. When passed, the WHPA will create a new right for providers to provide—and their patients to receive—abortion care throughout the U.S.

In addition to re-establishing a nationwide right, WHPA safeguards abortion access by protecting the right to travel for abortion care and creating new protections for patients, providers, and those who assist people in exercising their right to abortion.

WHPA was introduced in the House of Representatives with 208 original co-sponsors by lead sponsors Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Veronica Escobar (D-TX). It was introduced in the Senate on March 8 by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

On Monday, February 28, the Senate took its first-ever vote to enshrine the right to abortion into federal law. It may not have passed this time, but this vote brings us one step closer to realizing a future where all of us have equal access to abortion care, no matter who we are or where we live. The outcome does not reflect the will of the people, and we will continue to advocate for WHPA’s passage.

Tell your Senators how you feel about how they voted by sending an email today.

Monday, Feb 28: Click here to tell your Senators to vote yes.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that on February 28 the U.S. Senate will hold its first-ever vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), a bill that would safeguard abortion access from bans and restrictions that make abortion difficult or impossible to access for far too many. By filing cloture on February 17, Senator Schumer took the first procedural step toward a historic vote in the Senate.

SENATORS NEED TO HEAR FROM US TODAY! TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO CONTACT YOUR SENATOR RIGHT NOW>>

On September 29, as part of Reproductive Justice Week of Action, UltraViolet, MoveOn, NARAL, National Council of Jewish Women, MomsRising, and Catholics for Choice delivered 400,000 petition signatures to the U.S. Senate with an urgent message: Vote YES. Pass WHPA.

The petition was delivered after Senate Leadership committed to holding a vote on WHPA just hours after the bill passed the House. In a joint statement, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor & Pensions, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lead Sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, and Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said:

“Congress must assert its role to protect the constitutional right to abortion. We commend the House on the passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act and announce that the Senate will vote on this critical legislation in the very near future.”

Tell your Senators to support the Women’s Health Protection Act>>

A broad group of 118 organizations advocating for reproductive health, rights, and justice have released an open letter to public officials and policymakers asking them to help break down abortion stigma. The letter states:

“It is imperative that public officials and policy makers help to dismantle stigma and express support for people who have abortions in the language they use and the policies they introduce. Accordingly, public officials and policy makers should explicitly use the word abortion and communicate that: 

• abortion is essential health care
• abortion is part of the full range of reproductive health services and should not be singled out for burdens
•  access to abortion is a human right.”

You can read the letter and see all the groups who have signed on to it HERE.

In an historic victory for abortion rights and access, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) in the first ever congressional vote on proactive, standalone legislation to protect abortion rights.

On the day of the historic vote, members of Congress spoke in favor of WHPA.

“Every woman everywhere has the constitutional right to basic reproductive health care. No matter what state you live in, constitutional rights are not meted out geographically, they are for the country.” — Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

“This bill respects our right and the freedom to make our own choices about our bodies and it leaves those decisions up to us and our doctors…It’s time to put a stop to these attacks once and for all. With today’s historic vote we are ensuring that access to abortion care is a right from Texas to California.” —  Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)

“Make no mistake, people deserve the freedom to control their own bodies, lives, and futures. We must protect the right to access abortion to ensure that it is available and affordable.” — Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)

“What’s at stake in this fight is not some frivolous benefit, it’s the fundamental right of women across the country to decide.” — Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)

“Abortion is health care…Women can make the decision to have a child or not have a child. It is about bodily autonomy.” —  Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)

“America is the land of the free and the home of the brave, but we cannot truly be a free country unless women have the freedom to make their own health care decisions.” — Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)

“Many minority, LGBTQ and low-income women can’t afford to travel and access quality health care. Let’s pass the Women’s Health Protection Act so we can protect women’s freedom in every state.” — Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM)

“This legislation simply ensures that no matter where they live, patients can access abortion services and health care providers can provide this care without medically unnecessary and burdensome restrictions.” — Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)

Today we got news that a Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) vote is expected Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives. This is a momentous development for WHPA–and we need your help to make sure it passes.

All this week, we hope you’ll join the WHPA coalition as we post on social, share action tools, and activate our networks around the vote!

TAKE ACTION to support the upcoming vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA).