Article Summary –
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade and expected further rulings on abortion, advocates and lawmakers emphasize the importance of electing pro-abortion rights candidates. Pennsylvania has seen significant restrictions on abortion access, including a decrease in clinics from over 145 to just 20, and requirements for state-mandated counseling and 24-hour waiting periods. Potential future rulings could further limit access, prompting some to argue for the importance of electing representatives at all levels committed to preserving reproductive rights.
Pro-Abortion Rights Advocates Stress Importance of Election in June amid Tightening Abortion Restrictions
In light of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022 and anticipated further rulings on abortion, advocates and lawmakers emphasize the critical need for electing pro-abortion rights candidates.
“It’s the candidates voters elect that shape the future of abortion access,” State Sen. Amanda Cappelletti told the Pennsylvania Independent, emphasizing the weight of majorities in such matters.
Democrats clinched a slim majority in the state House in November 2022, which they’ve since maintained in special elections.
Cappelletti believes that officials elected, from state representatives to President Biden, will fight for securing reproductive rights and freedoms through federal legislation.
Despite abortion being legal in Pennsylvania up to 23 weeks of pregnancy, access restrictions remain a significant issue.
Under the state’s Abortion Control Act, patients must comply with state-mandated counseling and a 24-hour waiting period before the procedure.
The number of clinics providing abortions has dwindled dramatically since Roe was overturned, with just 20 freestanding clinics currently in operation for nearly 12 million Pennsylvanians.
Signe Espinoza, executive director of Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates, noted a 74% rise in out-of-state patients seeking abortion care after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in August 2023.
In January, Democratic state Rep. Tarik Khan introduced legislation seeking to eliminate some of the state’s abortion restrictions, including the TRAP law (Act 122) mandating abortion facilities to comply with ambulatory surgical facility regulations.
“We’re working hard to overturn or waive barriers hindering access to safe abortion care in Pennsylvania,” said Melissa Reed, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Keystone.
Cappelletti warned about the potential impact in Pennsylvania if the Supreme Court upholds an Idaho law banning abortion under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, or EMTALA.
She said that if the court rules in favor of Idaho, other states could ban emergency abortions, resulting in more patients from nearby states with abortion bans seeking treatment in Pennsylvania.
New Voices for Reproductive Justice’s Executive Director Beulah Osueke noted the significant consequences of abortion restrictions on overall health and wellness approaches.
Cappelletti believes that if Republicans take the White House in the upcoming elections, a federal abortion ban may be imminent. She warns of a “national assault on reproductive rights.”
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