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Torres: Choice is Safe Today, But We Can’t Put Our Guard Down

June 29, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Vice Chair of the Congressional Pro Choice Caucus, reacted today to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June Medical Services v. Russo, which challenged a 2014 Louisiana state law requiring doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

In a five-to-four decision, the Supreme Court agreed that such requirements, which would have shut Louisiana clinics down, unduly burdens women's access to abortion.

Rep. Torres released the following statement:

"A woman's medical decisions belong between that woman and her doctor – and only between that woman and her doctor," Rep. Torres said. "Requiring a doctor to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital might sound arbitrary, but in fact it's deliberate, calculated, and fully intended to shut down as many clinics as possible."

Louisiana leads the nation in laws limiting a woman's choice, with 89 restrictions passed since 1973. As a result, only three clinics are currently open in the entire state. Had the Supreme Court ruled against choice today, two of those remaining clinics would be forced to close.

"While choice is safe for now, we can't for a minute assume opponents won't try another scheme to undermine it tomorrow," Torres continued. "This is just one of hundreds of similar laws, which is why I'm committed to passing the Women's Health Protection Act to safeguard access in the Inland Empire and across the country."

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Issues:Health Care