SCOTUS will hear challenge to HB2, TX’s TRAP law

Statement of Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation (NAF) on the SCOTUS decision to take up Whole Women’s Health v. Cole:

Today the Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments in our members’ case challenging laws that have shut down clinics in Texas. This is an important first step in restoring abortion access for women in the state and keeping high-quality clinics open.

The radical restrictions already imposed by H.B. 2 harm women in Texas by denying them the option of safe, affordable, timely abortion care. These medically-unnecessary requirements are not trivial inconveniences that can easily be overcome, particularly for low-income women or those who live outside the four major metropolitan areas of Texas.

Since the passage of H.B. 2, the NAF Hotline has been flooded with calls from Texas women desperately trying to access the abortion care they need. Many of these women now have to travel significant distances to reach the closest provider. This need for increased travel presents other obstacles that can prevent women from accessing abortion care, such as raising additional money for travel expenses, finding reliable transportation, getting additional time off of work, and child care. Some women who have called the NAF Hotline have had to rely on others to travel to their appointments; others have had to pawn or sell personal items, such as furniture or wedding rings to pay these additional costs.

It will only get more difficult for women if the rest of H.B.2 goes into effect and forces more clinics to close. Now it’s up to the Supreme Court to put a stop to these politically motivated laws that jeopardize women’s health.

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Read the friend-of-the-court brief filed by NAF re: Whole Women’s Health v. Cole.

CONTACT:
Alissa Manzoeillo, National Abortion Federation
202.667.5881, ext 219; 202.595.4395 (after hours/cell)
amanzoeillo@prochoice.org

The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers. Our members include individuals, private and non-profit clinics, Planned Parenthood affiliates, women’s health centers, physicians’ offices, and hospitals who together care for approximately half the women who choose abortion in the U.S. and Canada each year. Our members also include public hospitals and both public and private clinics in Mexico City and private clinics in Colombia.

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