President Joe Biden has spoken out against Republicans seeking a nationwide ban on abortion, urging supporters to direct their outrage into mobilizing votes for Democrats in the upcoming 2024 election. In his speech, he emphasized that the most personal decisions should not fall into the hands of politicians and that it’s important to keep freedom on the ballot.
On the anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that overturned federal abortion protections, Vice President Mike Pence urged Republican presidential nomination rivals to support a 15-week federal abortion ban, at minimum. As both sides continue to lean into the issue, Biden issued an executive order to strengthen access to contraception and gained several high-profile endorsements during the rally, including Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, and Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff.
The Faith & Freedom Coalition’s annual conference was held just a mile away from where Biden rallied for abortion rights supporters, with many Republican hopefuls set to speak at the evangelical summit emphasizing their anti-abortion credentials and urging like-minded activists to remain politically offensive amid concerns it could backfire.
Financial Pressures Mount for Patients and Abortion Rights Groups
Meanwhile, one year after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, financial pressures continue to mount for patients and abortion rights groups alike.
Majority of Americans want legalized abortion
According to recent polls, a majority of Americans are in favor of legalized abortion nationwide. Despite being dismissed by some political pundits as a non-issue for the 2022 midterm elections, reproductive freedom continued to be a top concern for voters across the political spectrum.
“Reproductive freedom is an issue for all of us. Women cannot be less-than,” emphasized Emhoff.
Leading voices on abortion rights, including Planned Parenthood Action Fund, NARAL-Pro Choice America, and Emily’s List, were always going to endorse the Democratic president for reelection. However, they stressed the importance of early and loud support for Biden and Harris on this issue that will mobilize voters.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund president and CEO, Alexis McGill Johnson, expressed her pride in the Biden administration’s actions to protect patients and providers, provide accurate information, and let them know they are not alone.
Meanwhile, NARAL-Pro Choice America head, Mini Timmaraju, warned of the negative consequences of abortion bans being in place for an extended period, stating that it affects everyday life decisions such as choosing which state to attend college or whether to practice medicine in restricted areas.
The growing support for reproductive freedom underscores the need for politicians to take action that reflects the views of the majority of Americans.
The Ripple Effect of Abortion Restrictions on Pregnancy Care
As the national conversation surrounding abortion continues to heat up, the consequences of restricting access to the procedure are quickly moving beyond ending an unwanted pregnancy. Women living in states with highly restrictive policies are becoming increasingly unable to access care for pregnancy-related complications.
According to a report, doctors are increasingly afraid to treat patients who aren’t yet sick enough to be deemed treatable, given that they could face criminal charges if they provide abortions. This has led to a potential shortage of qualified medical professionals who are willing to perform procedures that are necessary in the event of a miscarriage or other pregnancy complications.
Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in 1973, 20 states have passed either a full ban or implemented highly restrictive policies. As a result, 25 million women currently live in states with abortion bans or tighter restrictions. The good news, however, is that 22 states and the District of Columbia have expanded access to abortion care.
Most of the states with severe abortion restrictions are also known for having high maternal mortality rates and higher rates of stillbirth and miscarriage. Unfortunately, Black women are disproportionately affected by these statistics, given that they are more than three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts.
Senator Kamala Harris has stressed that it’s no coincidence that maternal healthcare and abortion care are linked. The same medical procedures used to perform an abortion are often the ones used to treat miscarriage and other pregnancy complications.
It’s clear that restrictions on abortion have a ripple effect on pregnancy care as a whole. It’s time for lawmakers to take a comprehensive approach to reproductive health, one that prioritizes the well-being of women across the board.
Protecting Personal Freedom with Access to Contraception
The recent executive order by President Biden aims to strengthen access to contraception, increasing options, lowering out-of-pocket costs, and raising awareness about reproductive options. This move comes in response to growing concerns amongst Democrats that conservatives are pushing beyond abortion laws into regulation of birth control. Biden expressed his regret that he even had to sign such an order, stating that personal freedom is at stake.
“This was not an issue of abortion rights,” Biden stated. “It was an issue of freedom. Freedom to make decisions about one’s own life, one’s own body. The freedom to be free from government interference when it comes to one’s private decisions. Decisions that are about heart and home.”
Currently, nearly 65% or 46.9 million of the 72.2 million girls and women age 15 to 49 in the U.S. use some form of contraception. The executive order aims to increase and expand options and lower associated costs to protect people’s rights to privacy and personal freedom.
While some GOP members have challenged this order and even called for a federal abortion ban, the Faith & Freedom Coalition encourages candidates to prioritize pro-life and pro-family issues in their campaigns. The former president will address the evangelical assembly on Saturday night, and the organization’s chairman urges supporters to remind politicians that they should not be on the defensive about these important issues.
In a world where protecting personal freedom is of utmost importance, we must continue to fight for access to reproductive health options for all Americans.
