July 23, 2022
Dear Friends,
Our nation has recently seen a dramatic escalation in radical right-wing attacks on our fundamental freedoms. In state legislatures across the country and most notably at the Supreme Court, Republicans are stepping up their efforts to strip away long-established rights like abortion care, marriage equality, and contraception.
The Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade was the latest in a long line of far-right assaults on American civil liberties that have now been given a terrifying veneer of legitimacy by the federal judiciary. These assaults will only continue unless we fight back, and House Democrats are committed to doing just that.
Last week, I was proud to join my colleagues to pass two significant pieces of legislation to protect reproductive rights in the face of right-wing threats. The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022, a bill to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade into federal law, will ensure that all Americans can make their own decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures. And the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022 will make certain that those living in states where abortion is now illegal will be able to cross state lines to receive essential, legal care. As Republicans push extremist measures to ban abortion in every state and to criminalize those who receive legal abortion care in states where the right to an abortion remains in effect, legislation like this has never been more important. But as the far-right has made abundantly clear, their attacks on our rights will not stop at the right to an abortion.
One need look no further than the words of the justices who overturned Roe v. Wade to see which freedoms the radical right will target next. In his concurring opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the justices “should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell” — firmly established precedents that protect the right to contraception, the right to privacy, and the right to marriage equality.
I will not stand idly by as this Supreme Court continues to issue fiercely partisan, widely unpopular decrees that strip away Americans’ long-established rights. Make no mistake, Republicans will not hesitate to eliminate more of our freedoms if given the chance. We must not give them that chance. That’s why this week, I took action to enshrine these rights in federal law and put them out of reach of this lawless Court once and for all.
On Tuesday, I was proud to vote to enshrine marriage equality into federal law once and for all through the Respect for Marriage Act. This bill will repeal the antiquated, discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, already ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, and require the federal government to fully recognize any marriage considered valid in the state where it was performed—providing same-sex and interracial couples with additional certainty that they will continue to receive equal treatment under federal law.
And with the right to contraceptive care under threat, I joined my colleagues on Thursday to codify the federal right to contraception through the Right to Contraception Act. This bill will establish a federal statutory right to provide, obtain, and use contraceptives, barring states from interfering with access to this critical care.
Though our American freedoms are fundamental and long-established, recent events have shown that we must not take them for granted. As the right wing readies its next assaults on our rights, it has never been more urgent to act to protect the liberties we hold dear. If the Supreme Court will not protect our rights, Congress must. I urge the Senate to send these critical, widely popular bills to President Biden’s desk without delay. As threats to our freedom grow by the day, I for one will never stop fighting to protect our cherished rights.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- This week, our Capital Region, our nation, and many countries around the world have experienced dangerously high temperatures, an increasingly frequent occurrence as our climate crisis worsens.
- To help you and your loved ones stay cool, hydrated, and informed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have compiled some tips for dealing with extreme heat.
- Stay Cool
- Wear weather-appropriate, lightweight clothing and stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. Even if your home does not have air conditioning, a few hours in a shopping mall or public library can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
- Pace yourself when exercising during the heat, and try to schedule outdoor activities when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours.
- Stay Hydrated
- Drink plenty of fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Stay away from very sugary or alcoholic drinks – these actually cause you to lose more body fluid.
- Replace salt and minerals. Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced. A sports drink can replace the lost salt and minerals.
- Stay Informed
- Check your local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips, or to learn about any cooling shelters in your area.
- Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them. Take special care to monitor those at high risk, particularly infants, young children, older adults, and those with physical illnesses like heart disease or high blood pressure.
