Press Releases

Miami, Fla. – Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) voted to defend reproductive health freedoms and in support of the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022 and the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act which seek to reproductive health protections after the Republican-controlled Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion and signaled a willingness to overturn other precedents. Together, these bills put in place the right to freely travel throughout the country to access reproductive care such as the right to access abortion against restrictions and the right to access contraception.

“Over the past few weeks, we have the heard pleas from across the country of diverse ages, races, and backgrounds who have taken to the streets to protest statewide abortion bans and reaffirm their support for the constitutional right to access reproductive healthcare for all Americans,” said Congresswoman Wilson. “It is clear where the majority of our nation stands, and it’s time that Congress delivers. We cannot afford to let radical Republicans take away our rights. I am proud to vote with the people and for the people to protect reproductive health freedoms across our nation.”

The Women’s Health Protection Act restores the right to an abortion nationwide, ensuring all Americans – regardless of where they live – can make their own decisions about their lives and their futures.  On June 24, 2022, the Supreme court reversed nearly 50 years of precedent when they overturned Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and emboldened Republican-led state legislatures to ban abortion access throughout the country. In the immediate aftermath of the Dobbs decision, at least nine states have abortion bans in effect, and half of all states are expected to ban or severely limit abortion in the days and weeks to come. 

The Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, protects Americans from extremist decisions to ban reproductive healthcare by ensuring no person acting under state law can prevent, restrict, impede, or otherwise retaliate against a person traveling across state lines to obtain a lawful abortion. This would include vigilantes who could be empowered by states to seek out a person for obtaining an abortion. In his concurring opinion in the Dobbs decision, Justice Clarence Thomas signaled that this extremist ruling could be used to overturn other precedents, referencing the case recognizing Americans’ constitutional right to access contraception.

In response to this extremist assault on reproductive freedom, the House again passed the Women's Health Protection Act to enshrine Roe v. Wade into federal law.  Previously passed by the House last year, this landmark legislation has been updated to address the Dobbs ruling.  The Women's Health Protection Act will restore the right to an abortion nationwide – upholding all Americans’ freedom to make their own health care decisions as well as providers’ freedom to provide abortion care.  This bill would supersede state legislation – voiding all state-level abortion bans throughout the country.

The House also advanced the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act – addressing extremist Republicans’ attempts to restrict Americans’ freedom of movement.  This legislation will prohibit any attempt under state law to: 

· impede an individual from crossing state lines to obtain a legal abortion

· interfere with a health care provider’s ability to offer legal reproductive care

· restrict individuals from helping others to seek a legal abortion

· obstruct the transportation of FDA-approved abortion medication.

This legislation now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

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