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Quigley Statement on Republicans’ 20-Week Abortion Ban

October 3, 2017

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement after House Republicans passed the Twenty Week Abortion Ban (H.R. 36), another attack on a woman's right to choose:

"With so many critical issues facing our nation, Republicans are instead choosing to concentrate their legislative efforts on pushing partisan politics on women and their families," said Rep. Quigley. "It should be up to each individual woman—in consultation with her doctor and trusted loved ones—to decide what medical decision is right for her. We should be empowering women to make these decisions, not continually placing their health at risk or determining their future through bills that strip away a woman's constitutional right to choose."

Only 1.3% of abortions in the U.S. occur after 20 weeks. While it may be a small number of women who face these circumstances, for each and every one of them, the ability to make these personal and private decisions without the meddling of politicians is essential. Young women, women of color, low-income women, and immigrant women already face barriers to accessing the health care they need. Abortion bans like these only make access to safe, reliable care more difficult and could put a woman's health in jeopardy.

As a Member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, Rep. Quigley is a strong supporter of every woman's right to choose, as well as their access to quality, affordable health care. In order to address recent attacks on reproductive rights, Rep. Quigley helped introduce the Women's Health Protection Act, pushed for passage of the EACH Woman Act, and joined his colleagues in calling for an end to the Hyde Amendment that prevents federal funding for abortion. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, he has also pushed for increased funding for the Title X program and Planned Parenthood and recently spoke out against H.R. 3354, an appropriations bill that will cut women's health care programs.

Issues:Choice