January 22, 2010: 37 Years of Roe

On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision, Roe v. Wade, recognizing the constitutional right to privacy and a woman’s right to choose abortion. Many of us don’t recall the deadly days before Roe when abortions were illegal and "choice" for too many women meant a dangerous back-alley procedure. In fact, in 1965, before Roe, nearly one-fifth of all maternal deaths in the United States were due to illegal, unsafe abortions.

Today, this landmark victory for women’s rights is under attack. On the 37th anniversary, we face the remarkable possibility that the United States Congress will enact landmark health care reform legislation that singles out abortion from all other medical procedures, with unprecedented and unnecessary restrictions that will jeopardize women’s health. .

These restrictions will make it nearly impossible for millions of women to purchase private health insurance that covers abortion and would effectively result in a ban on abortion coverage in health care reform.

In addition, these restrictions would also violate President Obama’s promise that Americans wouldn’t lose coverage they already have.

It is incumbent upon Congress to remove the harmful Stupak amendment on abortion from the final health care reform bill. Congress must vote for a final health care bill that provides women with insurance coverage for abortion and allows them to make important medical decisions allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade.

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