Congresswoman Judy Chu | Official U.S. House headshot
Congresswoman Judy Chu | Official U.S. House headshot
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the nation approaches the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Reps. Judy Chu (CA-28), Diana DeGette (CO-01), and Barbara Lee (CA-12) filed a discharge petition, a legislative tactic to force the Republican-led House to hold a vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act to restore the right to access abortion care everywhere in America.
“With House Republicans beholden to their extreme MAGA members, they refuse to restore and strengthen Americans' reproductive rights,” said Rep. Chu, the author of the Women’s Health Protection Act. “I am beyond proud to work with House Democratic leadership and the Pro-Choice Caucus to offer the Women's Health Protection Act in a discharge petition to force accountability for their inaction. House Members who do not add their signature are telling Americans that they shouldn't have the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions.”
The move comes as more than one dozen states across the country have enacted laws banning or extremely limiting women’s right to access abortion services in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
“If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle aren’t willing to stand up for the people they represent, then we must,” said Rep. DeGette, who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus. “We may not have the majority in this chamber, but there is no doubt that we have the majority of Americans on our side in this fight. Now is the time to end the devastation that too many Americans have already experienced. Now is the time to let the American public know exactly where every member of this chamber stands.”
“In every election or poll since the Dobbs decision, the American people have made their support for reproductive rights clear,” said Rep. Lee, the co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus. “My colleagues in Congress now have a choice: either trust your constituents to make the best decisions for themselves about their bodies, health, and lives, or go against the will of the people and continue to restrict a fundamental personal freedom. The decision to have an abortion should be between a person and their doctor—NOT politicians. The Pro-Choice Caucus is sending a message to the American people that we will not stop fighting to defend your right to make your own decisions over your bodies."
Under House rules, if a discharge petition to force a vote on a particular piece of legislation is signed by 218 members of the House, it must immediately be brought before the full House for a vote, regardless of any objections or attempts by leadership to block the legislation from being considered.
If approved, the Women’s Health Protection Act would restore the rights of patients to receive, and providers to provide, abortion care, as well as invalidate any state or local government’s restrictions that have been put in place to erode those rights. Now that it’s been filed, the discharge petition will remain open for members to sign. At any time, if the discharge petition filed Wednesday garners 218 signatures, the Women’s Health Protection Act will be called up for a vote.
Original source can be found here.
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