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.