On the recordMay 21, 2019
As States like Alabama move forward implementing medieval laws that seek to imprison doctors and punish women for their personal healthcare decisions, I want to make one thing absolutely clear: I will always stand up and defend a woman's fundamental right to choose. These near-total bans on abortion are not only unconstitutional, but they also endanger the lives of countless women who will be forced to turn to unsafe procedures. In 1930, illegal abortion was listed as the official cause of death for almost 2,700 women, nearly 20 percent of maternal deaths recorded that year. We have come too far in the fight for women's equality to retreat to an era when women lacked the basic right to autonomy over their own bodies. My district of Rochester, New York, is the proud home of Susan B. Anthony. Today, we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, but the fight for women's rights is far from over. We must remain resolute in our commitment to protecting and upholding Roe v. Wade. We must support critical healthcare programs like Planned Parenthood. We must ensure that every single woman across America has the right to make her own decisions. ____________________
