The Quickie: Senate Republicans Introduce National Abortion Ban

Welcome to “The Quickie” — Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s daily tipsheet on the top health care & reproductive rights stories of the day. You can read “The Quickie” online here. 

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS INTRODUCE NATIONAL ABORTION BAN LEGISLATION: Today, nearly three months after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade which ended our federal right to abortion, Congressional Republicans introduced a national abortion ban–an even more extreme version of the bill than previously introduced. Despite knowing that these bans are incredibly unpopular and lead to dangerous consequences for pregnant people, anti-abortion politicians are undeterred and making it clear that a total abortion ban is their end goal. Planned Parenthood Action Fund president Alexis McGill Johnson responded:

“The idea that overturning Roe v. Wade would simply return the issue of our reproductive rights to the states was always disingenuous. Anti-abortion rights Congressional Republicans are showing us exactly what they plan to do if they get power: pass a national abortion ban. They have seen the horrors and dangerous consequences of abortion bans playing out in states across the country and made it their national agenda. The cruelty is the point, and we should take them at their word.”

NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND JUSTICE GROUPS MEET WITH VP HARRIS: Yesterday, the nation’s top civil rights leaders, reproductive rights and justice organizations met with Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss the harmful impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the ongoing threat to our democracy. This meeting stems from a letter the organizations sent to President Biden in July urging his administration to prioritize the protection of women’s health and reproductive rights. In a joint statement released following the meeting, the coalition noted: 

“We are incredibly grateful to Vice President Harris for meeting with us to discuss the dire situation unfolding across the country as abortion access hangs in the balance. Abortion access is an economic and racial justice issue. The Supreme Court’s disastrous decision to overturn Roe v. Wade stripped women of the federal constitutional right to control their own bodies. The denial of that access cannot be separated from other social justice issues – voter disenfranchisement, policing abuse, criminal injustice, poverty, economic inequity, housing inequity, LGBTQ+ rights, the immigration crisis, food insecurity, medical bias, environmental injustice etc. – that disproportionately harm the communities we serve. … Together, we are prepared for the long fight that lies ahead to safeguard reproductive rights, voting rights, and other freedoms – and we are grateful to the Biden-Harris administration for their continued work to protect these essential rights.”

Read the full statement here. 

ABORTION IS FRONT AND CENTER IN PENNSYLVANIA: Yesterday, Planned Parenthood President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson joined Dayle Steinberg, CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania, Sydney Etheredge, CEO of Planned Parenthood Western Pennsylvania, and Melissa Reed, CEO of Planned Parenthood Keystone, in Philadelphia for a roundtable discussion on protecting abortion access in the Commonwealth. Abortion is still legal in Pennsylvania but the anti-abortion lawmakers in the state legislature are doubling down on efforts to ban abortion. 

“These bans have done exactly what they were designed to do: sow chaos, instill fear, and stigmatize the patients who need abortion care and the providers who provide it, said Alexis McGill Johnson. “And yet, state politicians, including those in Harrisburg, continue to relentlessly pursue abortion bans. Pennsylvania — which is currently standing in the gap for care — needs only to look to its neighbors for what is possible when legislators put these bans on our bodies.” 

Read more here.

‘BANS OFF OUR BODIES’ AT THE EMMYS: On TV’s biggest night, the fight for abortion rights hit the red carpet. Stars from the year’s biggest hits wore ‘Bans Off Our Bodies’ pins to raise awareness for the ongoing battle for abortion access following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. J. Smith-Cameron, nominee and star of Best Drama Series winner Succession, wore the pin on her purse as she walked the carpet’s photo line. Also donning the pin on her bag was Yellowjackets director and Emmy nominee Karyn Kusama, holding the statement directly in front of the cameras. Kerry Washington and award presenter Shonda Rhimes also joined in expressing their support, sharing behind the scenes footage on their Instagrams with the pin, and Severance star Britt Lower wore the pin at pre-Emmy parties and red carpets. 

Caren Spruch, national director of arts and entertainment engagement at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, stated the importance of TV industry players using their platform to raise awareness: 

“Last night’s ceremony was held in California, but it was viewed in states across the country — states where abortion bans are already in place, where politicians are planning anti-abortion legislation, and where abortion access has been nearly nonexistent even before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Television has always been a tool in changing the culture and challenging injustices, and by using their platform, these extraordinary and talented artists chose to continue to inspire people to start conversations and demand more for their neighbors and communities.”

Photo courtesy of Vogue

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Photo courtesy of @kerrywashington Instagram

Photo courtesy of AFP

Photo courtesy of @shondarhimes Instagram