Three Democrats to share their abortion stories ahead of hearing
By Joseph Choi - 09/29/21 06:44 PM EDT
Democratic Reps. Cori Bush (Mo.), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) and Barbara Lee (Calif.) shared their personal stories of getting abortions in interviews airing on MSNBC's "The ReidOut" Wednesday evening, one day before a House Oversight Committee hearing on state anti-abortion laws.
Speaking with NBC News’ Ali Vitali, the three lawmakers all cited their upbringings as well as their desires for privacy for not previously disclosing their abortions in public, despite advocating for reproductive rights.
Bush said she became pregnant when she was raped at a church youth convention by a man "several years" older than her when she was 17.
"I just knew that I wasn't ready for a child," said Bush.
The Missouri congresswoman was directed by her friends to a center where birth control was given and was able to receive an abortion. According to Bush, she was able to get the abortion without having to "jump through a bunch of hoops," which she expressed gratitude for.
"I had so much going on that I didn't need all these other things in the way of me getting services," she said.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/house/574588-democratic-representatives-share-their-abortion-stories-ahead-of-hearing
