Diane S. Sykes: “3 years ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ripping away a constitutional right that generations of women had…”

“3 years ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ripping away a constitutional right that generations of women had relied on for nearly one-half century. In that moment, the Court did not just revoke a legal precedent, they set in motion a wave of chaos, cruelty, and control. What followed was a full-scale assault on reproductive healthcare: abortion, contraception, IVF, and even access to emergency care. In Ohio, we felt the effects immediately. Just hours after the Dobbs decision was handed down, an extreme and deeply unpopular 6-week abortion ban went into effect, essentially outlawing abortion before many people even knew they are pregnant. That law put the lives of millions of women in danger overnight. It forced healthcare providers to choose between following their sworn oath to care for patients or facing criminal charges. It caused trauma and suffering that cannot be undone. In fact, Mr. Speaker, a 10-year-old rape victim was denied the care she needed and was forced to flee the State to get the care that saved her life and her future. Yet, despite all of this, the people of Ohio did what we have always done in the face of injustice. We fought back. In November 2023, Ohioans from across the political spectrum came together and voted to enshrine reproductive freedom directly into our State's constitution: the ability to bear a child, to use contraception, and to access abortion care.”