Hirono Statement Following Republican Refusal to Protect Women’s Reproductive Freedom

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) today voted to advance the Women’s Health Protection Act, legislation to codify Roe v. Wade in federal law. After Republican Senators blocked the legislation from advancing, Senator Hirono released the following statement:

“Today’s vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act was about who should control a woman’s body—women, or the government. It is deeply upsetting, but not surprising, that my Republican colleagues voted to allow the government to control a woman’s body. As a result, when this radical right-wing Supreme Court, thanks to three Trump Justices, overturns Roe—women across the country will wake up and no longer have reproductive freedom. This soon to be decision will give free reign to dozens of states led by Republican legislatures and Republican governors to outlaw and criminalize abortions.

“The Republican party continues to claim to be the pro-life party. But they have consistently fought to make it harder for parents to access health care, child care, paid leave, and so much more that families need to thrive. There is nothing pro-life about forcing women to give birth — even in cases of rape, incest or life threatening circumstances — only to abandon those women and their children once they are born.

“Democrats, on the other hand, are fighting to protect the right of all women to make decisions about their own bodies, and to provide the support women and families need and deserve. This fight is not over.”

Senator Hirono is a staunch advocate for abortion rights and reproductive freedom. In March, she introduced a resolution to honor abortion providers and thanked them in a floor speech on National Abortion Provider Appreciation Day. Senator Hirono also cosponsored S.1975, the Senate companion to the House-passed Women’s Health Protection Act (H.R.3755), which would protect the right to access abortion care throughout the United States. Earlier this week, she delivered a floor speech emphasizing the need to defend abortion rights.

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