Week in Review 4-12-2019

Abortion rights suffered another setback this week. Ohio just became the fifth state to ban abortion at six weeks, just when a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Many women don't even know that they are pregnant at that point. 

In Texas, lawmakers introduced one of the most reprehensible bills yet -- the death penalty for women who get abortions. There would be no exception for rape or incest. On the Hill, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, held a hearing on his legislation to ban abortion after 20 weeks. 

The fetal heartbeat laws have been challenged in court and blocked from taking effect, but they are part of a larger effort to eventually overturn Roe at the Supreme Court.

Legislatures in more than a dozen states are considering similar provisions -- a 63 percent increase from last year. More than 250 bills restricting abortion have been filed in 41 states since the start of 2019. 

If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade, then state governors and legislatures will ultimately get to decide the fate of abortion in their states. Six states have adopted laws, known as trigger laws, which would automatically make abortion illegal when Roe becomes null on the federal level. 

Other states have already passed punitive laws such as restricting private insurance plans from covering abortion, allowing health care providers to refuse abortion services, and mandating that health care professionals falsely inform women that abortion is linked to breast cancer.

Congress will be on recess for the next two weeks. Your representative and senators will be holding town hall meetings. (Click here for a location near you.) Attend a meeting and let your elected officials know that protecting women's reproductive rights is important to you.

Your elected officials need to hear from YOU -- even if they are pro-choice.

 "When you take things for granted, the things you are granted get taken." 

Get involved. Support JAC and our pro-choice candidates. Let's keep the House pro-choice and turn the Senate blue.

Sources: CBS News, Guttmacher Institutue