State AGs Blast Patchwork System of Abortion Bans That Would Disproportionately Harm BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and Other Marginalized Communities; Call For Immediate Federal Action

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democratic Attorneys General Association Co-chairs Massachusetts AG Maura Healey and Nevada AG Aaron Ford are calling on congressional leaders to immediately move legislation that would codify reproductive rights in America.

Statement from Massachusetts AG Maura Healey and Nevada AG Aaron Ford, Co-chairs of the Democratic Attorneys General Association:

“As state attorneys general, we are seeing firsthand the consequences of restrictions and obstacles that politically-driven state legislatures and Governors are placing in the way of abortion — a legal, Constitutionally-protected, medical procedure.

“As the chief legal officers in our states, we stand prepared to defend an individual’s right to abortion and reproductive health care. Today, a coalition of 24 Democratic AGs filed an amicus brief backing the U.S. Department of Justice’s lawsuit against the State of Texas for its illegal 6-week abortion ban. Last week, 21 Democratic AGs filed an amicus brief in support of Planned Parenthood’s fight to dismantle South Carolina’s 6-week abortion ban.

“Access to abortion should not be dependent on where someone lives, who their state AG is, or what their financial means are. But a patchwork system of illegal abortion bans, in addition to existing restrictions already in place in many rural communities, would ensure just that. Low-income, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ communities would disproportionately bear the burden of these restrictions, rendering abortion a medical procedure only guaranteed to those with privilege and resources.

“Congress needs to step-in. We call on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to codify protections for abortion and reproductive health care at the federal level, so that state attorneys general have the legal framework necessary to protect access to abortion for every person and in every state.

“Time is of the essence. We call on the House and Senate to act on this as soon as they gavel into session next week, so that President Biden can sign into law protections that we, as state Attorneys General, can enforce on behalf of every person whose fundamental rights and bodily autonomy have been endangered by anti-choice state officials.”

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