House Pro-Choice Caucus Speaks Out on the Supreme Court’s Ruling in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt

Washington, DC – The co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, Congresswomen Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY), today praised the Supreme Court’s decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt as a victory for women’s health that sets a strong precedent for reproductive rights.

“Today’s ruling reaffirms a woman’s constitutional right -- no matter where she lives -- to make her own decisions about her health, her family and her future,” said DeGette and Slaughter. “We are immensely proud that the highest court in the land has again recognized that women must be treated with compassion, respect, and dignity in making their health decisions without needless barriers.”

The majority decision strikes down Texas House Bill 2 (H.B. 2), a state law that placed burdensome regulations on abortion providers, and paves the way for more clinics to open and reopen in Texas and across the nation.

In January, DeGette and Slaughter led 155 other Democrats in filing an amicus brief to the Court on the harmful and wide-ranging impact of H.B. 2.  As noted in the brief, the law has forced many clinics in the state to close. Today, the Court’s decision could now halt the steady decline of women’s health providers in Texas and other states that have passed similar laws targeting health clinics.

“The Court has sent a strong message for people of all ages, races, religions, and backgrounds that should put politicians on notice: You cannot inject your beliefs into our personal decisions. We are pleased that this ruling will benefit women across America, but the fight to protect abortion access does not end today. This is only the first step in dismantling hundreds of medically unnecessary laws aimed at making it harder for women to exercise their rights,” said DeGette and Slaughter. 

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