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WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Paul D. Tonko today voted to advance H.R. 3755, the Women’s Health Protection Act, legislation that will uphold access to reproductive health care for everyone across America, free from dangerous state bans and restrictions like the SB8 abortion law implemented in Texas.

“Today Congress took urgent action to uphold our constitution and protect the reproductive rights of every woman in America, free from political interference and regardless of their background or zip code,” Congressman Tonko said. “Almost 50 years ago, the historic Roe v. Wade case ruled definitively for women’s fundamental rights. But over the decades, states have launched an assault against abortion rights, most recently with the horrific SB8 law in Texas. The dark-of-night ruling by the Supreme Court to allow this outrageous and unconstitutional ban made our path clear; Congress must step up to enshrine women’s reproductive rights in federal law. Today we took strong action to get it done. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to advance this bill and will continue fighting to ensure women have the power to make their own decisions about their health, wellbeing and future.”

Tonko has long supported the effort in Congressman to protect women’s health. He was a cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act when it was introduced last Congress in 2019 and again this Congress. Earlier this month, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold SB8, he issued a scathing statement condemning the ruling and law.

The Women’s Health Protection Act

• Codifies the constitutional right to an abortion found in Roe v. Wade
• Creates federal protections against state laws that fail to protect women’s health and that intrude upon personal decision-making
• Prohibits medically unwarranted restrictions that single out abortion services or the facilities that provide them as compared with other medical procedures with similar risk

Supporting organizations include: National Nurses United, American Public Health Association, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, AFSCME, Catholics for Choice, Jewish Women International, United Church of Christ, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, ACLU, Moms Rising, National Women’s Law Center, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Abortion Federation, Center for Reproductive Rights, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Human Rights Campaign, UltraViolet, and In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda.

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