House to vote on bill guaranteeing abortion access in response to Texas law
By Cristina Marcos - 09/02/21 12:26 PM EDT
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that the House will vote on legislation to guarantee access to abortion upon its return to Washington later this month after the Supreme Court refused to block a restrictive Texas law that bans most abortions.
Late Wednesday night, the court issued a 5-4 ruling denying an emergency request from abortion providers to block the Texas law, with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the three liberal justices in dissent.
Pelosi said that after the House returns to session on Sept. 20, the chamber will vote on a bill from Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) to statutorily protect a person's ability to seek an abortion and for health care providers to provide abortion services. She called the Texas law "a flagrantly unconstitutional assault on women’s rights and health" and a "catastrophe."
"This ban necessitates codifying Roe v. Wade," Pelosi said, referring to the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling that prohibits states from banning abortion before a fetus reaches the point of viability, which typically is around 24 weeks of pregnancy.
“Upon our return, the House will bring up Congresswoman Judy Chu’s Women’s Health Protection Act to enshrine into law reproductive health care for all women across America," Pelosi said.
more
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/570576-pelosi-says-house-will-vote-on-bill-to-ensure-abortion-access-after-supreme
