Murray: “Politicians have no business interfering in a woman’s most personal health care decisions.”
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered remarks outside the Supreme Court before listening to the oral arguments in Whole Woman’s Health vs. Hellerstedt, the first major Supreme Court case involving restrictions on women’s access to abortion in more than two decades. Murray was joined by health experts and advocates from across the country in defense of women’s constitutionally protected rights, and reiterated her strong objections to Texas’s anti-abortion law and laws like it across the country.
In January, Murray led a total of 163 Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief to the Supreme Court on Whole Woman’s Health vs. Hellerstedt.
Full text of Senator Murray’s remarks:
“I am so proud to see all of you here today, standing up for women’s health and rights.
“As frustrating as it can be to have to explain, time and time again, why a woman should be able to make her own health care decisions in the 21st century and as we all know, it can really be frustrating!
“It is also so inspiring to see women—and men—making their voices heard and making clear that we are not going backward.
“We are not going backward because a woman’s constitutional right to make her own choices about her own body has been affirmed for more than four decades.
“Because politicians have no business interfering in a woman’s most personal health care decisions.
“Because our daughters and granddaughters should have stronger rights and more opportunity—not less!
“As a mother, grandmother, and U.S. Senator—I know that’s the right direction for our country.
“But the Texas clinic shutdown law in question today would mean the opposite.
“It could allow a woman’s zip code to determine whether she’s able to get the health care she needs.
“It could open the door for even more states to play politics with women’s health—and it would put women’s lives at risk.
“I believe that is unacceptable—and I know you do too.
“So today—and in the weeks and months ahead—let’s keep delivering the same message we are sending right now.
“Let’s tell extreme politicians that they can’t sneak around the Constitution to impose harmful policies on women.
“And let’s urge the Supreme Court to listen to the many brave voices here today, recognize that a right means nothing without the ability to exercise that right, uphold settled law, and protect the health and rights of women today and for generations to come.
“Thank you—and let’s keep up the fight!”
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