John,
By now you've heard the news that the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block Texas' six-week abortion ban. Texas is now home to the most extreme anti-abortion law in the country -- outlawing it before roughly 90% of abortions take place. It's effectively a near total ban.
As terrible as this bill is, the worst part is that it encourages Texans to spy on one another to enforce it. Senate Bill 8 allows private citizens to sue others for conduct that aids in the inducement of an abortion. If successful, these "bounty hunters" could win up to $10,000. It's grotesque, it's reckless, and it must be stopped.
Texas has written the blueprint, so we expect to see more bills like this crop up in red states. It's precisely in moments like these that Democrats need to be unequivocal and flex our muscle in the House and Senate. We worked too hard to win in 2020 to allow extremists to trample on our rights and on the health of millions of women across the county.
Here are a couple of things you can do right now to reverse Texas' abortion ban and prevent legislation like this from cropping up in other states:
1. Add your name as a citizen cosponsor of the The Women's Health Protection Act. This legislation would override state-level restrictions and protect the right to access safe abortion care throughout the entire United States. A vote on this bill is expected later this month, and adding your support to this bill sends a strong message that the American people are watching closely.
2. Chip in to support women's health organizations in Texas still working to help vulnerable women receive safe, legal reproductive care. These organizations are poised to face extreme scrutiny and need our support now more than ever.
If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will be split evenly between Clinic Access Support Network, Texas Equal Access Fund, and Whole Woman's Health Alliance immediately:
What happens in the coming weeks could determine the fate of women's reproductive rights for generations to come. Thanks in advance for your continued commitment.
Mike
