Dear John,
The ideology-driven abortion legislation before the North Carolina General Assembly today ignores the realities pregnant women face, and the maternal health crisis facing American women.
Most Republican lawmakers believe they’re protecting life with an abortion ban. Most Democratic lawmakers know abortion protects a woman’s freedom, health, and autonomy in a world that traditionally only valued those concepts for men.
However, if we put the ideological debate aside, we are left with a cold fact: American women are dying during or after pregnancy at alarming rates, rates higher than 20 years ago and significantly higher than most wealthy nations.
In the United States, approximately 1 in 1000 Black women will die due to pregnancy-related complications. For women with comorbidities and preexisting conditions, that rate is even higher; and the rate of severe maternal morbidity is even higher than that. Unfortunately, the women who face the most danger from an unexpected pregnancy are often those with the least resources – multiple visits, or trips out of state, may be too much. They may not even know they’re pregnant before 8-12 weeks, making it impossible for them to clear the hurdles in this legislation.
Many women must ask themselves hard questions when they learn they are pregnant: ‘What if I’m not there for my family, my community, my students, or my children?’ Though many of us would take that chance, we can’t force those odds of death, and even higher odds of serious health complications, on North Carolina women. Solving the maternal health crisis and saving the lives of moms should be a higher priority than forcing pregnancy on those most at risk.
I pray that wisdom prevails in the chamber where I served for 20 years, and that Governor Cooper’s veto is sustained.
Sincerely,
Alma
Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D.
North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District
