Press Release
California Future of Abortion Council Statement on Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade & Eliminating Constitutional Right to Abortion Nationwide
For Immediate Release: Friday, June 24, 2022
Contact: Information below
CALIFORNIA – The California Future of Abortion Council (CA FAB Council) Steering Committee, comprised of ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, Black Women For Wellness Action Project, Essential Access Health, NARAL Pro-Choice California, National Health Law Program, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and Training in Early Abortion for Comprehensive Healthcare (TEACH), released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the case brought specifically to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate the constitutionally protected right to abortion established nearly 50 years ago.
“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court is disastrous. The ruling strips the constitutional right to access abortion away from millions, and it puts people’s health and livelihood at risk across the country. We want to be exceedingly clear, abortion care will remain legal, and available here in California. Our organizations will continue to work around the clock to ensure people who need care can access it and receive the necessary support they need when doing so.”
“California leaders must continue to take swift and significant action to protect and expand access to abortion and build on the collective promise of being a Reproductive Freedom State. People are already traveling to California for abortion care, and now millions more will be relying on our state for this essential health care. Collective action, from elected officials; reproductive health, rights, and justice leaders; and people across the state is critical if California is to meet this moment of national crisis – like we have done many times before.”
In California, there is a package of bills moving through the California Legislature that protects and expands access to abortion care in an effort to make access to this care more equitable. In May, CA FAB Council-supported bills passed their first house and are working their way through their second legislative house, now with a vote on most or all bills expected by the end of the summer. The bill package is accompanied by a $125+ million budget proposal in support of sexual and reproductive health care, including all budget requests made by the California Future of Abortion Council. This package stems from the recommendations put forth by the CA FAB Council in a report issued in December.
In addition to this decision, 2022 was already the worst year for abortion rights since 1973, when Roe was decided, with more than 500 abortion restrictions introduced in more than 40 states.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, the impact a Roe overturn will have on the country and on California could be enormous. Twenty-six states across the country are likely to immediately or very quickly enact limits or bans on abortion care. That could mean more than 33 million women of reproductive age would no longer have access to abortion services in their home state. California could see an increase of nearly 3,000% in women of reproductive age who would find their nearest abortion provider in California.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Brandon Richards, Director of Communications
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
[email protected]
Elliott Kozuch, Senior Communications Strategist
NARAL Pro-Choice California
[email protected]
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The “California Future of Abortion Council” (CA FAB Council) is comprised of reproductive freedom and sexual and reproductive health care allies, partners, and leaders. The CA FAB Council works in collaboration with policymakers, researchers, advocates, providers, patients, and key constituents to determine potential challenges in the state and recommend solutions that will continue to provide access and stability for both Californians and those who may seek services here from out of state. The CA FAB Council allows for those dedicated to protecting reproductive rights and expanding access to sexual and reproductive health care to come together. Learn more here.
For over 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels—including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and post-partum care, and paid family leave—for every body. NARAL is powered by its more than 2.5 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion.