Dear John,

You can’t fight to protect abortion access if you won’t even talk about it. So far, more than four months into his presidency—and despite numerous attacks on abortion access around the country—President Biden hasn’t put forward a vision for making sure abortion is available and affordable for all, let alone said the word “abortion” once.

We are in an absolute crisis when it comes to abortion access across the country. Without control of our lives, bodies, and futures, our very freedom is at stake. Since January of this year, more than 530 abortion restrictions have been introduced in state legislatures across the country. And, just on Monday, the Supreme Court announced it will hear a case that could gut or wholly overturn the legal right to abortion.

In the face of such attacks, we need President Biden and his administration to be clear in their unequivocal support for abortion rights and access. But in his more than 100 days in office, Joe Biden hasn’t explained how he’s going to make sure abortion is available and affordable for all… let alone even said the word.

Joe Biden needs to be a bold and transformational leader on abortion access now.

Demand that President Biden speak up and truly champion abortion access for everyone.

The bare minimum is not an option when the Supreme Court will rule on whether to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The bare minimum is not an option when six states only have one abortion clinic left.

The bare minimum is not an option as state legislatures deny access to abortion to so many—most often low-income, LGBTQ people, and people of color.

It’s time for bold leadership, courage, and clarity. Tell President Biden to put forward a clear, unequivocal, and out-loud vision in support of abortion access.

At the National Women’s Law Center, OUR vision is a world where people can get the abortion care they need, when they need it, and where our laws respect and support them. Because actually, abortion is something one in four women will experience in their lifetimes—it is health care, it’s freedom, it’s an act of love and compassion. And it’s not just OK be a leader who is a visionary about abortion. It’s necessary.

To be a true leader, you must use your bully pulpit to talk about abortion.

To be a true leader, you must do everything in your power to make sure our policies and budgets ensure affordable and available abortion care.

To be a true leader, you must condemn the state legislators who are taking away our ability to access abortion.

And to be a true leader, you must weigh in forcefully against the attempt to overrule our fundamental right to abortion and nominate judges who are committed to upholding that right.

There are leaders on the other side of this fight who have unabashedly, loudly, shared their vision for a country without abortion access. Leaders including Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, whose power on the Supreme Court could easily demolish Roe v. Wade once and for all.

There is no time to lose. The Biden-Harris administration must take a strong stance for abortion now. Tell President Biden: it’s time to become a visible leader in the fight for abortion access and the rights of pregnant people.

There’s just too much at stake for President Biden to remain on the sidelines.

This administration needs to:

• Talk about abortion like the safe and common experience that it is.
• Remove abortion restrictions from our federal laws and budgets, including writing a federal budget without abortion restrictions like the Hyde and Weldon amendments.
• Champion policies that truly support abortion access, like the EACH Act and the Women’s Health Protection Act.
• We are waiting for President Biden to make good on his campaign promise to be an active advocate for reproductive freedom and the right of every pregnant person to make their own decisions. We—and the futures of millions of people—can’t wait any longer.

Demand that President Biden speak up and truly champion abortion access for everyone.

Sincerely,

Awo Eni
she/her/hers
Manager, Campaign and Digital Strategies
National Women's Law Center