Brittany Pettersen: “Since the Supreme Court's unthinkable decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, women face countless attacks on our reproductive…”

“Since the Supreme Court's unthinkable decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, women face countless attacks on our reproductive healthcare and desperately need Congress to act now. Despite an overwhelming majority of Americans supporting reproductive healthcare, 14 States have enacted total abortion bans, and many others have brought partial bans or restrictions. This is resulting in devastating consequences across this country. Millions of women are losing the right to critical, lifesaving care, and some States are actively attempting to stop emergency rooms from providing lifesaving abortions and miscarriage care. These bans do not just threaten the health and safety of women seeking abortions. They jeopardize all pregnant people. In States with abortion bans, we have seen maternal death rates increase by 300 percent compared to States without abortion protections. In States where abortions remain legal, like my home State of Colorado, people are facing longer wait times, delays in care, and a strained medical workforce. {time} 1230 We have seen maternity wards even shut their doors because they can't navigate what might happen in a medical emergency and how they would navigate the liability. In response to this assault on women's healthcare, Americans across seven States, including my home State of Colorado, voted to protect access to reproductive healthcare in their State's constitution.…”