POWER TO DECIDE MARKS 49TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE

Press release

POWER TO DECIDE MARKS 49TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE

January 22, 2022

(Washington, D.C.) — Today marks the 49th anniversary of the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which empowered people to be the stewards of their life’s course and enabled them to exert their reproductive freedom.

In response, Power to Decide CEO, Dr. Raegan McDonald Mosley issued the following statement:

“The decision allowed women and people capable of reproduction to experience economic and professional vitality. While today we recognize what Roe made possible, we also recognize the millions who cannot access abortion care despite Roe. Policies such as the Hyde Amendment and efforts to restrict access by state legislatures have consistently kept abortion care out of reach for people struggling to make ends meet and communities of color who face systemic barriers to health care access. 

“If Roe v. Wade is struck down, it’s estimated that 26 states would immediately move to outlaw abortion with “trigger laws” that make abortion immediately illegal. Other states have pre-Roe abortion bans on the books or have legislatures that would immediately pass laws to ban abortion. The result would be devastating for those who lack the resources to travel to a state where abortion remains legal.

“Throughout my career as an OBGYN specializing in family planning and providing abortion care, I have counseled people from different backgrounds, creeds and nationalities regarding their reproductive health. I know the impact to a person’s reproductive well-being and mental health that result from being denied abortion care. 

“It is fundamentally wrong to have access to safe and essential abortion care dependent on what state you live in and/or how much money you make. It is time we pass the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), which would establish a right to abortion care across the country. This bill enshrines the right for people to receive abortion care without medically unnecessary restrictions, such as mandatory waiting periods, biased counseling and mandatory ultrasounds. The bill passed the House last Fall and must now pass the Senate.  

“We urge the immediate passage of this critical legislation in order to prevent states from turning the clock back on all the progress made since Roe v. Wade was decided. We must also demand that state policymakers protect coverage and access to abortion care. This is how we can ensure that all people can achieve reproductive well-being.” 

Power to Decide is a private, non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to ensure all people—no matter who they are, where they live or what their economic status might be—have the power to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant or have a child. Please visit us at www.PowerToDecide.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.