Democratic Women’s Caucus on Idaho Law Restricting Travel for Abortion Care: “Cruel”

Washington D.C. – Today, the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Chair Lois Frankel (FL-22) issued the following statement on Idaho Governor Brad Little signing HB 242 into law. The measure criminalizes helping minors travel out-of-state for abortion care without parental consent making it particularly endangering for girls who are survivors of rape or incest. The penalty for those convicted is up to 5 years in prison. This law goes into effect in 30 days. It is the first law in the United States restricting travel for abortion care since Roe fell.

“This new law in Idaho is cruel and a warning of what’s to come across the country if extreme MAGA Republicans have their way. MAGA Republicans are passing state abortion bans and forcing women to travel hundreds or thousands of miles just to get the care they need. Now the goal is to trap women and girls within state lines, making it impossible to cross a state border to get abortion care— particularly endangering girls who are survivors of rape or incest. It’s harrowing, blatantly unconstitutional and it should scare all of us.

“This makes crystal clear why we need to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act. Everyone—no matter their zip code—should have the right to control their own bodies and that includes access to legal abortion care.  The Democratic Women’s Caucus is fighting back harder than ever—because the cruelty of extreme MAGA Republicans’ policies when it comes to women’s rights seemingly has no limits.”

###