John—
Any day now, the Supreme Court will rule in the first abortion case since Kavanaugh was confirmed. With so much at stake, we need all the help we can get to make sure that everyone knows exactly what we're fighting for and why.
Here are the 6 questions I've been asked most often about the case in front of the Supreme Court (June Medical Services LLC v. Russo) and our fight to ensure reproductive freedom is for every body, everywhere. Please read through and then forward this email to 5 friends.
Thank you for being in this fight with us,
Kate Ryan
Government Relations Director, NARAL Pro-Choice America
P.S. When this ruling comes down, we need to be ready for whatever comes our way. If you can, pitch in $15 to ensure reproductive freedom can be for every body, everywhere.
What is the case in front of the Supreme Court?
June Medical Services LLC v. Russo is a case challenging a dangerous clinic shutdown law in Louisiana that would require doctors to have medically unnecessary admitting privileges at a local hospital.
What is a clinic shutdown law?
These restrictions are based on disinformation pushed by the anti-choice movement that falsely claims that requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a local hospital helps women. In fact, it’s been proven that these restrictions provide no medical benefit. Requiring admitting privileges does not make patients safer but, instead, reduces access to abortion by preventing providers and clinics from offering care.
Didn’t the Supreme Court just hear a case like this?
Yes! The Louisiana law at issue here is identical to an unconstitutional Texas law the Court struck down four years ago in a case called Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that laws like this one have no purpose other than to make abortion more difficult to access. The only difference between now and then is the addition of two Trump nominees — Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — to the Court.
What happens if the Supreme Court rules against Louisiana clinics?
First and foremost: NARAL Pro-Choice America will never stop fighting to ensure that reproductive freedom is for every body, everywhere. But if the Court does uphold the Louisiana clinic shutdown law, it would devastate abortion access in Louisiana and set the stage for anti-choice politicians to pass copycat restrictions across the country.
What can Congress do?
Good news! Right now, there’s legislation in Congress that would protect the right to abortion care and improve access. The Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) would guarantee the federal right to abortion care and defend against the onslaught of unconstitutional abortion bans and medically unnecessary restrictions passed by state legislatures across the country.
Is there anything we can do?
When a case like this is at the Supreme Court, it's always helpful to let people know that we’re in a critical moment for reproductive freedom and that they can get involved by talking to their friends and family and doing things like posting on social media.
We also really need to band together to take this fight to Congress. The House has already held a hearing on WHPA, but in order to ensure a vote on this critical legislation, your representative needs to hear from you today. Make sure your representative knows the pressure is on: demand a vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act now »
And if you haven't already donated to support NARAL in the fight to ensure reproductive freedom is for every body, everywhere, you can pitch in here!
DONATE NOW
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