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Biden’s Speech Falls on Six Month Anniversary of Texas’s Six-Week Abortion Ban 

WASHINGTON — Today, more than 120 reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations signed an open letter to President Biden ahead of his State of the Union to request that he address the national abortion access crisis and reiterate his support for the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA). 

The president’s address to the nation falls on the six-month anniversary of the day Texas’s six-week abortion ban, S.B. 8, took effect. Texans who can afford it and are able to make the trip are leaving the state for abortions, causing an uptick in patients seeking care in neighboring states or self-managing their abortions. The people who can’t find the resources are forced to remain pregnant. Meanwhile, emboldened state lawmakers across the country have introduced an alarming number of abortion restriction bills in 2022, with an eye to the upcoming Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that could overturn Roe v. Wade. 

The open letter notes that despite abortion rights at times being innacurately called a “divisive” issue, recent polling, including polls from CNN and FOX News, reiterate that there is broad support for abortion rights and the Roe v. Wade decision. The groups write:

“As you prepare for the State of the Union, we urge you to be clear that protecting abortion access is of paramount importance given both the ongoing crisis in Texas and the likelihood that the Supreme Court will further decimate the constitutional right to abortion later this year. We also urge you to reiterate your support for the Women’s Health Protection Act.” 

“For many Texans — especially immigrants, Black, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and Indigenous communities, particularly those with low incomes — abortion was already a right in name only. S.B. 8 has decimated what little access remained.”

“And with the Supreme Court poised to potentially overturn Roe v. Wade when they rule on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization this summer, we are staring down a future where basic access to abortion and other reproductive health care will almost certainly depend on what state you live in.”

“We are hopeful you will make a forceful case to the American public about the administration’s efforts to protect abortion access in the face of unprecedented attacks.” 

The open letter signatures include: 

A Woman's Choice of Charlotte,

Greensboro, Raleigh, and Jacksonville

Abortion Access Front

Abortion Care Network

Access Reproductive Care

(ARC)-Southeast

ACCESS Reproductive Justice

Advocates for Youth

All-Options

All* Above All Action Fund

American Civil Liberties Union

American Humanist Association

American Muslim Bar Association (AMBA)

American Society for Reproductive

Medicine

Amnesty International USA

Avow

Black Women for Wellness

Black Women for Wellness Action Project

Catholics for Choice

Center for Reproductive Rights

Chicago Abortion Fund

Cobalt

Collective Power for Reproductive Justice

EMAA Project

Equality Labs

Feminist Majority Foundation

Feminist Women's Health Center

Florida Access Network

Fòs Feminista

Freedom From Religion Foundation

Frontera Fund

Fund Texas Choice

Gender Justice

Global Justice Center

Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights

(GRR!)

Guttmacher Institute

HEART Women & Girls

Heartland Alliance International

Hope Clinic for Women

Human Impact Partners

Ibis Reproductive Health

If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive

Justice

In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's

Reproductive Justice Agenda

Ipas

Jane’s Due Process

Jewish Women International

Just The Pill/Abortion Delivered

Justice for Muslims Collective

Lilith Fund

Love Me Unlimited 4 Life

Mabel Wadsworth Center

Medical Students for Choice

Miscarriage + Abortion Hotline

Ms. Foundation for Women

NARAL Pro-Choice America

National Abortion Federation

National Advocates for Pregnant Women

National Asian Pacific American Women's

Forum (NAPAWF)

National Birth Equity Collaborative

National Center for Lesbian Rights

National Council of Jewish Women

National Council of Jewish Women Greater

Dallas

National Family Planning & Reproductive

Health Association

National Health Law Program

National Institute for Reproductive Health

National Latina Institute for Reproductive

Justice

National Network of Abortion Funds

National Organization for Women

National Partnership for Women & Families

National Women’s Health Network

National Women’s Law Center

National Women's Political Caucus

Nebraska Abortion Resources (NEAR)

New Mexico Religious Coalition for

Reproductive Choice

New Orleans Abortion Fund

New River Abortion Access Fund

Northland Family Planning Centers

NWAAF

PAI

Pathfinder International

People For the American Way

Physicians for Reproductive Health

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Population Institute

Power to Decide

Pregnancy Options WI: Education,

Resources & Support, Inc.

Pro-Choice Connecticut

Pro-Choice Maryland

Pro-Choice Missouri

Pro-Choice North Carolina

Pro-Choice Ohio

Pro-Choice Oregon

Pro-Choice Virginia

Pro-Choice Washington

Queer Crescent

Reclaim/ MI WIN Abortion Fund

Reproaction

Reproductive Equity Now

Reproductive Health Access Project

Rhia Ventures

Right By You

SHERo Mississippi

SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change

SisterLove Inc.

SisterSong: Women of Color Reproductive

Justice Collective

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

State Innovation Exchange (SiX)

Supermajority

Tampa Bay Access Force, Inc.

Texas Equal Access Fund

The Afiya Center

The Womxn Project

UltraViolet

Union for Reform Judaism

URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender

Equity

We Testify

White Ribbon Alliance

Whole Woman's Health Alliance

Women of Reform Judaism

Women with a Vision

Women's Medical Fund, Inc.

Women's March

Yellowhammer Fund

YWCA Kalamazoo

#VOTEPROCHOICE

2+ Abortions Worldwide

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S.

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