On Friday, the United States House of Representatives voted to restore abortion rights across the country, the first legislative response by Democrats to the Supreme Court decision that overturned the Roe ruling. vs. Wade.
The proposal, however, has little chance of becoming law because it does not have the necessary support in the Senate, which is divided 50-50. However, the vote marks the beginning of a new era in the abortion debate as lawmakers and governors grapple with the impact of the decision by the nation’s highest court.
The bill was approved with 219 votes in favor and 210 against. The House of Representatives is also voting on a separate proposal to prohibit the punishment of a woman or minor who decides to travel to another state to obtain an abortion. And it rules that doctors cannot be penalized for providing reproductive care outside their state.
“Just three weeks ago, the Supreme Court destroyed fundamental rights by overturning the Roe ruling. vs. Wade,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “It is outrageous that 50 years later, we women must return to fight for our most basic rights against an extremist court.”
Abortion rights in the US: Roe vs. Wade, a watershed torpedoed by the Supreme Court
Overturning the Roe ruling vs. Wade, the court has allowed states to enact strict limits on abortion, including many that had previously been deemed unconstitutional. The ruling is expected to lead to abortion bans in about half of the states.
Before the vote in the House of Representatives, the Democrats highlighted the case of a 10-year-old girl who had to cross the borders of the state of Indiana to have an abortion after being raped, an example that the Supreme Court’s decision, they said, it is already having serious consequences.
“We don’t have to imagine why this might be important. We don’t have to conjure hypotheses. We already know what has happened,” Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar said on the Senate floor.
“Should the next 10-year-old girl, or 12-year-old girl, or 14-year-old girl’s right to desperately needed care be jeopardized?”
Associated Press/OnCuba
