Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), a leader in the Pro-Choice Caucus, released a statement following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
“After nearly fifty years of protecting freedom of reproductive choice, this single decision overturns the rights of women across America and limits access to safe and legal abortions. It is devastating and is particularly harmful for women of color, low-income women, and those who do not have access to adequate health care. In the absence of this federal protection, inconsistent state laws are making reproductive choice inaccessible and placing lives in jeopardy.”
“But, we knew this was coming as Republicans have been working towards this outcome for years. Overturning Roe is unpopular among the American people, so Republicans turned to packing the Supreme Court with conservative extremist judges, some of whom lied about their position on overturning Roe, who have no respect for precedent or the rule of law. They seek only to impose their own personal beliefs on the American people, trying to control women and their bodies. In the history of the Court, a right has never been taken away until today. This undoubtedly places other unenumerated rights at risk of being stripped away by this right-leaning Court.”
“I will continue to fight for policies that protect a woman’s right to reproductive choice. But make no mistake, there is no silver lining to what has happened here. This decision will create more inequality, put lives at risk, and endanger American women.”
U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress, and is the first African-American elected to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.
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