The most extreme anti-choice law in the country could go into effect in Texas TOMORROW. Not only does this cruel law ban abortion before many people know they’re pregnant, it also encourages vigilantism by literally offering a bounty for suing anyone who “aids and abets” a pregnant person seeking abortion care after approximately 6 weeks. Anti-choice lawmakers in other states are paying close attention to SB 8 to see if they can use it as a blueprint to attack reproductive freedom. And of course they’re hoping Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturns Roe v. Wade. That’s why it’s critical that Congress protect the legal right to abortion, by passing the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) — don’t wait, tell them we need WHPA now!
Policy Highlight The Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA)
Join NARAL members and supporters virtually on September 14th at 8:00 pm ET for “Why WHPA? Why Now?” to learn more about the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) and how this critical legislation would safeguard the right to abortion throughout the United States and prevent draconian bills like Texas' SB 8 from becoming law.
Last month, anti-choice organizations, politicians, and activists filed legal briefs ahead of the upcoming Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case before the Supreme Court — the case regarding Mississippi’s 15-week ban that directly challenges Roe v. Wade. These anti-choice briefs called on the Supreme Court to overturn Roe. NARAL Research’s analysis of the briefs found they were rife with disinformation, including at least 60 false science-related claims.
This summer, Michigan NARAL Action Council leaders have been working hard to get Representative Haley Stevens (MI-11) to sign on as a co-sponsor of the Women's Health Protection Act. Kimberly Beebe took the lead on setting up a meeting with Rep. Stevens and shared her experience.
"I was excited to lead our Action Council in asking Congresswoman Haley Stevens to co-sponsor the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) . . . During that meeting, the congresswoman's office made the commitment to sign on to WHPA! I am so glad that NARAL gave me the tools and resources I needed to set up a lobby visit and talk about WHPA with confidence!" - Kimberly Beebe, Michigan Action Council Leader
Anti-choice state lawmakers are escalating their attacks on reproductive freedom and abortion access through every angle imaginable. Over 330 bills attacking abortion acess have been introduced or advanced in states across the country in 2021 alone — including in Texas.
On September 1, a draconian new law in Texas is scheduled to go into effect that encourages anyone — including anti-choice extremists — to essentially act as bounty hunters by awarding $10,000 or more to those who successfully sue another person for supporting someone seeking abortion care after approximately six weeks of pregnancy.
And Texas isn’t the first state this year to attempt to ban abortion. States like Arkansas and South Carolina also enacted extreme bans on abortion in 2021, though laws in those states are currently blocked from being enforced.
Anti-choice legislators in Texas recently passed SB 8, an extreme bill that would would ban abortion before many people know they’re pregnant and encourage vigilantism by offering a bounty to anyone who successfully sues people who help a pregnant person seeking abortion care after about 6 weeks in pregnancy.
Make no mistake: Anti-choice extremists are paying close attention to Texas to see if they can use SB 8 as a blueprint to roll back abortion access in states across the country.
Summer may be over, but the party doesn’t need to stop. Before everything becomes pumpkin-flavored, get our limited edition “I’m Speaking” can holder and drink in style!
The state of repro freedom
