WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Lois Capps released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the federal ban on so called “partial birth” abortions: 

“The Supreme Court’s decision today to uphold a federal law restricting an important medical procedure is a very disappointing ruling,” said Capps, a nurse and Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health.  “The decision to perform a medically necessary procedure to save a woman’s life or protect her health should be made by the patient and her doctor, not by politicians.  When the Republican-led Congress passed the law that was upheld by the Court today, it was considered a cynical partisan political ploy to placate anti-choice extremists rather than a sincere attempt to act in the best interests of women’s health.  Efforts by politicians to criminalize sound medical procedures are inappropriate and it is unfortunate that the Court’s decision allows politics to trump science at the expense of women’s health.”

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