Dem Women’s Caucus Leaders on Dobbs Anniversary: We’re Not Backing Down from the Fight to Protect Abortion Rights

Washington D.C. – Today, Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Lois Frankel and Vice Chairs Nikema Williams and Teresa Leger Fernández issued the following statements in advance of the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Whole Women’s Health, which overturned Roe v. Wade and ripped away the constitutional right to abortion.

Despite House Republicans’ continuing attacks on reproductive health care, the DWC leaders made clear that they refuse to back down from the fight to protect reproductive freedom—including by joining a discharge petition to force a floor vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act.

“In the year since Roe fell, Republican legislatures in state after state have passed abortion bans and severe restrictions in the dead of night, forcing women to stay pregnant when they don’t want to be—or travel hundreds of miles to get the care they need. And despite this health care crisis, Republicans here in Congress have blocked any effort to protect women’s rights and have continued their non-stop attacks on reproductive health care. It’s disgraceful,” said Rep. Lois Frankel, Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. “Even in the face of Republicans’ ceaseless cruelty, the Democratic Women’s Caucus refuses to back down from our fight to protect women’s ability to decide if and when to grow or start a family. We will always protect reproductive freedom, whether it’s pushing back against Republican legislation or signing our names to a discharge petition to force a floor vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act. The women of the world are watching—it’s time to enshrine access to abortion care into law once and for all.”

“One year ago, the Supreme Court stripped away women’s liberties, ended 50 years of abortion rights, and overturned Roe v. Wade. Now, 25 million women live in states where abortion is banned or severely restricted,” said Rep. Leger Fernández, Vice Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. “The Court is out of step with America - 70% of people think abortion should be legal. As a woman, mother, and Vice Chair of DWC, I’ll keep fighting to restore and protect abortion rights for everyone, no matter where they live.”

"We are in the fight of our lives to restore our reproductive freedoms that have been ripped away by an extremist, out-of-touch Supreme Court,” said Rep. Williams, Vice Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. “But we must go further, we must eliminate the systemic barriers marginalized communities face while seeking the abortion care they need. Codifying the right to abortion is only the floor: it is time to ensure abortion is accessible and affordable for all who need it--no matter their ZIP code, no matter their bank account."

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