This year, we have seen the devastating repercussions of the far-right's attacks on reproductive freedom.

An untold number of patients have had to seek care under duress, cobble together money for out-of-state travel, go without the care they need, and, in devastating cases, lose their lives due to harsh and senseless restrictions.

In June, we got to breathe a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court determined that abortion opponents did not have the legal right to challenge the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of mifepristone, a medication used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the United States. This is the first case related to abortion since the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade two years ago.

Overturning Roe has radically constrained reproductive freedom in frightening and dangerous ways. In 26 states and counting, automatic trigger laws turned abortion from a legal procedure to a criminalized act in an instant.

Next week, as voters cast their ballots, we know that reproductive rights are at risk nationwide.

Abortion access remains under attack by far-right extremists. Washington is one of 16 states with laws that protect abortion rights, but in many states where abortion is banned or heavily regulated, the outcomes of this election could have grave consequences.

I am not only referring to the ballot measures in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota that range from fetal viability, 6-24 week limitations, to all-out abortion bans — but to the candidates on the ballot as well.

Republican leaders have promised that they will seek a nationwide abortion ban if they take over Congress in November.

As a member of Congress with a 100% voting record on choice, I will fight hard to codify abortion rights nationwide in federal law. Last fall, I joined a majority in the House to pass the Women's Health Protection Act, which would do exactly that. But it is currently being blocked by Republicans in the Senate.

My colleagues in the House and I will encourage Senate Democrats to keep making the case with the few Republicans who support Roe that a temporary suspension of the filibuster to protect reproductive freedom is practical, precedented, and urgently necessary.

Today, we can take a step in the right direction by voting and encouraging others to do so because we must continue to address the ongoing public health crisis resulting from widespread abortion restrictions.

More soon,

Rick