With SCOTUS Poised to Overturn Constitutional Right to Abortion, Wyden and Merkley Vote in Support of Abortion Access

Although 80% of Americans want abortion to be legal and the Supreme Court is preparing to overturn our constitutional right to an abortion, today the U.S. Senate failed to pass federal abortion rights legislation — as lawmakers hostile to sexual and reproductive health blocked the measure. 

The Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) would protect abortion rights in Oregon and across the country and ensure people have the power to control their own personal medical decisions. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley voted in favor of the legislation.

WHPA would establish a statutory right to provide and receive abortion services, prohibiting states from implementing harmful and unconstitutional abortion bans and restrictions. Passage of WHPA is critical to meet this moment of crisis. A leaked Supreme Court opinion draft revealed that the court plans to overturn Roe vs. Wade, ending rights that have been protected for nearly 50 years and stripping our right to control our own bodies. Abortion opponents are not stopping there. A blockbuster Washington Post story last week detailed a plan by anti-abortion groups and lawmakers to pass a national six-week abortion ban.

Statement from Lisa Gardner, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon; Anne Udall, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette; and An Do, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon:

“With the Supreme Court poised to end the constitutional right to an abortion, we are deeply grateful to Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley for standing up for Oregonians’ health and rights and voting to protect abortion access at the federal level. Everyone deserves access to abortion free of political interference and unnecessary barriers no matter their ZIP code, income or immigration status. 

“While Oregon protects the right to safe and legal abortion in state statute, we know that a threat to abortion access anywhere is a threat to abortion access everywhere. It’s unconscionable that lawmakers out of touch with 80% of Americans prevented the Women’s Health Protection Act, but we are undeterred, and we are not stopping. We’ll rally this Saturday across the state and across the nation stand up for our rights and fight back against those working to take them away from us.”