05.21.19

Cantwell: If You Try to Take Away Constitutionally-Protected Reproductive Health Care, “You are Going to Hear From Us”

Senator also joins colleagues in introducing resolution in support of reproductive health care

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, as people around the country rally to #StopTheBans and protect access to health care for women, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) called on her colleagues and elected officials around the country to protect reproductive health care rights. 

“I believe, and my state believes, that access to health care should be and is protected under the Constitution as a right to privacy,” Cantwell said. “Anytime anybody is going to take on access to health care for women and erode what is a basic right in our state, and I believe a basic right protected in our Constitution, we are going to raise our voices. You are going to hear from us.” 

In recent weeks, a number of states have passed restrictive laws that many experts say would essentially ban abortion in most, if not all, cases. This includes a law in Alabama that bans abortions at every stage of pregnancy, including in cases of rape and incest, and could jail doctors for up to 99 years for performing the procedure. 

“Health care should be the right of women, to be discussed with their doctors, and continue to be protected under our Constitution,” Cantwell said in remarks on the Senate floor. 

Today, Cantwell also joined 43 of her colleagues in introducing a resolution calling on the Senate to ensure women have access to high-quality health care information and coverage and reaffirm the constitutionally-protected right to safe abortion care.

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