Rep. Shontel Brown Condemns Legislative Attack on Reproductive Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Shontel Brown (OH-11) issued the following statement regarding the House of Representatives' passage of two pieces of anti-abortion legislation, specifically H.R. 26, and H. Con. Res. 3.

"Attacks on reproductive freedom are direct assaults on the most vulnerable members of our communities," said Rep. Shontel Brown. "The deceptive, redundant legislation passed by the House majority today is the newest weapon in the GOP’s arsenal to erode reproductive healthcare rights. Doubling down on the extreme Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which set back women’s rights more than fifty years, these draconian abortion bans and restrictions exacerbate health disparities in communities of color."

“It is our moral obligation to stand up to measures that restrict our fundamental right to the privacy to make our own health choices. I will fight tooth and nail to fully restore our reproductive freedoms."

Background

H.Con.Res 3 restates current law and condemns attacks on pro-life facilities, groups, and churches without condemning threats or violence against abortion providers, staff, their patients, and abortion facilities. Full text of this legislation is available HERE. 

H.R. 26 also restates current law requiring that doctors provide the same medical care for infants born during abortion procedures as they would other infants. Additionally, it would supersede a healthcare provider's medical expertise, requiring providers to transport infants to a hospital, even in cases that would not be in the best interest of the infant's health. This legislation permits imposition of criminal penalties, including up to five years imprisonment, and acts as a precursor to criminalizing abortion nationwide and eliminating a woman’s right to choose her reproductive healthcare. Full text of this legislation is available HERE.