Draconian Texas ban makes an abortion illegal after six weeks — long before many women even know they’re pregnant
Today, the draconian Republican abortion ban in Texas (S.B. 8) went into effect, all but eliminating access to safe, legal abortion for patients across the state.
The Texas bill is one of the most radical, restrictive abortion bans in the country. It makes abortion illegal after six weeks of pregnancy, long before many women even know they’re pregnant. The legislation also encourages wanna-be vigilantes to target health care providers across the state by allowing anyone — from abusive partners to neighbors to complete strangers — the right to sue any person they believe provided or assisted a patient with accessing an abortion. They can even collect $10,000 for each successful claim.
Ending safe, legal abortion in this country is the future House Republicans have worked for. Last month, 184 House Republicans signed an amicus brief to urge the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and end 50 years of legal precedent when it considers a restrictive 15-week ban out of Mississippi next term. Despite the fact that 77% of Americans support Roe v. Wade and its protections, House Republicans continue to shamefully attack their constituents’ reproductive health care.
“This draconian ban is an unconstitutional attack on women’s reproductive rights,” said DCCC Chairman Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. “It’s an attack on freedom, it’s out of step with the law, and it’s out of touch with the majority of the country. Women deserve better. We won’t go back — and we’ll be fighting from now until Election Day to make sure that the House Republicans who are coming for reproductive rights lose their seats in 2022.”
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