Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice America Responds to U.S. Department of Justice Establishing Reproductive Rights Task Force
Washington, DC — Today, the Biden-Harris administration’s U.S. Department of Justice announced its establishment of the Reproductive Rights Task Force. These actions follow an executive order signed last week by the Biden administration to help protect access to abortion care.
NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju released the following statement:
“The abortion access crisis caused by MAGA Republicans and anti-choice extremists is massive and far-reaching, and every day we learn more about the horrifying new reality millions of Americans are facing. We need to use every tool in our toolbox to rebuild the freedoms and protections that were taken from us, and the establishment of this task force is another step in the right direction. We’re grateful to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta for their leadership in this pivotal moment. We look forward to seeing the administration continue to step up to its promises to protect and champion reproductive freedom.”
Today’s announcement comes in the aftermath of the anti-choice supermajority on the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This cruel decision opened the door for extremist state lawmakers to enforce extreme bans on abortion. Roughly half of the states in the country are at risk of banning abortion, and thus far, 12 states have bans in place and many more are rushing to do the same. The people hurt most by these bans and restrictions are those who already face barriers to accessing abortion care—including women; Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; those working to make ends meet; the LGBTQ+ community; immigrants; young people; those living in rural communities; and people with disabilities.
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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 4 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion.