THE NWHN’S STATEMENT ON SENATOR GRAHAM’S NEWLY INTRODUCED BILL PROPOSING A FEDERAL ABORTION BAN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Director of Communications Adele Costa at  [email protected]  or by phone at 631 – 538 – 6348 for general comments and questions. 

On September 13 2022, Senator Lindsey Graham introduced federal legislation that would prohibit abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy nationwide. The “Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act,” if passed, would make only limited exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the pregnant person. A medical provider who performs an abortion after the 15-week cut-off point, under the draft bill, could face up to five years in prison.

This bill, by Graham’s own analysis, has very little chance of passing. Rather, its purpose is to force proclaimed and presumed anti-abortion politicians to take a unified stance on the issue before the midterm elections in November. But make no mistake; that it was even introduced in the first place is gravely worrying, and represents a draconian new normal in Washington brinksmanship. The overturning of Roe v. Wade in June was a national tragedy decades in the making – but many anti-abortion politicians tried to soften the blow by declaring that abortion legality would now simply be left to the states. Graham’s introduction of this bill confirms what the NWHN and our allies have always known – that a growing group of federal lawmakers have no intention of leaving the issues of bodily autonomy to anyone but themselves.

It won’t stop with abortion. Same-sex marriage, access to contraception, and more are all at risk right now – which is why it is more important than ever to hold our elected officials accountable at the ballot box come November and beyond.

The NWHN encourages our supporters to:

• Register to vote, or check that your registration is in good standing
• Encourage others in your community to vote, and help where you can with practical considerations like childcare and rides to polling places
• Learn the candidates’ positions on crucial issues related to bodily autonomy
• Share reliable information about abortion access with those in need

The Network was founded in 1975 because five brave women knew we deserved better than this. We have been working tirelessly in the sexual & reproductive health space since, and we don’t plan on quitting now. Join us.

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The National Women’s Health Network is supported by our members. We bring the voices, concerns, and needs of all women health care consumers to policy and regulatory tables.