Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) delivered her first floor speech of the new term, urging her colleagues to oppose the anti-abortion bills the House Republican majority are forcing a vote on.

CLICK HERE or the image below to view Trahan’s remarks. CLICK HERE for a transcript.

“In every state where abortion rights were on the ballot last year, Americans voted to protect lifesaving reproductive care. In Republican strongholds like Kentucky and Montana, voters rejected attempts to restrict or ban abortion. In Vermont, Michigan, and California, voters codified abortion rights into their state constitutions. After such a resounding defeat for anti-abortion politicians, you would think that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would have gotten the message,” ther side of the aisle would have gotten the message,” Congresswoman Trahan said in her speech.

“The partisan bills on the floor today will do nothing to protect women,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “Instead, they’ll undermine access to reproductive care that millions of women rely on. Madam Speaker, the women we represent deserve better. Our daughters deserve better.”

Later today, Trahan will vote against the deceptively titled Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which perpetuates an unfounded narrative that reproductive health care providers do not exercise skill, care, and diligence during abortion procedures. Under current law, doctors are required to care for infants born after a failed abortion, an extremely rare complication that providers are equipped to handle. The legislation, which is expected to pass along a near party-line vote, would reiterate the law and threaten further criminalization of reproductive care providers who are already under attack in Republican-controlled states.

She will also oppose a resolution that fails to condemn the violence directed at reproductive health clinics that women have relied on for decades for care. Despite evidence of increased attacks on abortion clinics and patients, Republicans put forward a resolution that only condemns violence and threats directed against pro-life facilities. Trahan has consistently and unequivocally denounced violence of any form against these institutions and cast her vote against House Republicans’ misguided bill.

In contrast to these Republican efforts to criminalize women’s health decisions, the first piece of legislation that House Democrats attempted to bring to the floor in the new Congress was the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would protect the right to access abortion care. The Women’s Health Protection Act, which Trahan has remained consistent in her advocacy for, was blocked by Republicans earlier this week. 

Trahan remains a resolute proponent of expanding abortion access and defending abortion providers. Specifically, Trahan has introduced the Informing New Factors and Options (INFO) for Reproductive Care Act to inform health care professionals on the best ways to help patients navigate the legal landscape following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Health care providers simply trying to care for their patients should not be forced to navigate a patchwork of new bans and limitations on abortion care. This legislation will provide them with the guidance they need to continue saving women’s lives.

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