Supreme Court Decision Allows Extreme Abortion Ban to Remain in Effect

Statement by Julie Rabinovitz, President + CEO, Essential Access Health

“The Court’s decision to allow the extreme abortion ban to remain in effect is a devastating blow for the millions of people in Texas and in states ready to strip away the constitutional right to abortion care. The ruling puts the health, safety and livelihood of individuals with lower-incomes and people of color particular at risk who cannot afford to travel to get the health services they want and need.

The devastating harms of the Texas ban have been well documented in court filings, research studies, and extensive reporting. Under the Texas law, many have been forced by the state government to carry pregnancies to term or to wait in hopes that the law would be struck down – including assault survivors as the law makes no exceptions for rape or incest. The thousands who have been able to find a way to travel to another state for the care they need must do so at their own expense and often face delays in getting an appointment.

Although the conservative majority on the Court chose to allow the extreme abortion restrictions to stand, we applaud the Biden Administration for stepping in to protect the constitutional right of Texans to make personal health decisions and our democratic system of checks and balances.

The lower courts must now strike down this dangerous Texas scheme to bypass judicial review and undermine the fundamental right to bodily autonomy.

As a member of the California Future of Abortion Council Steering Committee, Essential Access Health is committed to working with our state leaders and a coalition of over 40 organizations to ensure safe, equitable, and affordable access for anyone seeking abortion care in our state.”

The Council recently released a report outlining 45 recommendations for making California a Reproductive Freedom state - download the report.