Statement in response to U.S. Senate vote on the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA)

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Statement attributed to Jennifer Welch, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action:

We are deeply disappointed the Senate failed to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), a bill that had broad support among voters nationwide. This critical legislation would have protected the right to access abortion throughout the United States and guarded against unnecessary abortion restrictions being pushed forward by state politicians. Instead, pregnant people will continue to face mounting uncertainty and confusion about their ability to access safe and legal health care.

Despite the Senate’s failure to pass WHPA, we offer our gratitude to Illinois Senators Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth for consistently supporting reproductive rights, including today’s votes in support of WHPA.

We cannot afford to rely on the Senate or the Supreme Court to ensure that people can continue to access essential and time-sensitive reproductive health care. Planned Parenthood of Illinois’ doors will remain open as they continue to prepare for growing numbers of pregnant people traveling here from out of state. Unfortunately, not everyone has the resources or opportunity to travel for an abortion. Patients who already face immense barriers to health care, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities, people with disabilities, people in rural areas, young people, immigrants, and those having difficulty making ends meet are the ones most affected by extreme state laws and unnecessary restrictions on care.

Access to essential health care should not depend on who you are, how much money you make, or where you live. And we will continue to fight so that everyone can access the health care they need — no matter what.

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