Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene joined Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington and MomsRising in support of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which was introduced in the House of Representatives last week in response to a series of states passing laws attacking a woman’s right to choose, including Alabama’s law which outlaws abortion even in cases of rape or incest. The press conference took place at Planned Parenthood in Seattle. DelBene is a cosponsor of the legislation.

The Women’s Health Protection Act would bar states from imposing medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion that interfere with a woman’s ability to access care. The bill would ban prohibitions on abortion prior to fetal viability, which would include so-called “fetal heartbeat” bills, which have passed in a handful of states this year. It would also ban restrictions on abortion that single out abortion services or makes abortion services more difficult to access without advancing women’s health or improving safety.

“Women across this country are being attacked by a litany of state laws meant to undermine a woman’s right to make her own health decisions,” said DelBene. She added, “The House and Senate must pass the Women’s Health Protection Act without delay so we can protect women from these terribly invasive state laws, including Alabama’s most recent assault on women’s health. We will not let a small band of extremist lawmakers determine our future, determine our health, determine how we will carry out our lives.”

“This bill is needed now more than ever. We’ve seen state by state passing outright bans on abortion, putting people’s health and lives in danger. Attacks at the state and national level are one coordinated attempt to ban abortion and overturn Roe v. Wade,” said Treasure Mackley, Vice President of Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii.

“What’s really happening here is a direct attack on women – on moms – having bodily autonomy, having economic freedom, having sovereignty in our lives, and power in our society. This is no small attack,” said Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director/CEO of MomsRising.

The full press conference can be viewed here, and includes personal stories from Morgan Steele Dykeman, Legislative Affairs Manager of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, and Callie Martin, a Planned Parenthood Patient Advocate.

Congresswoman DelBene is a champion of women’s rights. She is one of the leaders of the Pro-Choice Caucus and stood up for women and access to reproductive health by serving on the Select Committee to Investigate Planned Parenthood, which was established under Speaker Paul Ryan. The committee convened under the veil to investigate Planned Parenthood but the majority members at that time used it to harass and intimidate women, doctors and researchers.