Three Years After Roe v. Wade’s fall, RFC Co-Chairs, Members Amplify the Reproductive Freedom Fight Across the Country
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, the Congressional Reproductive Freedom Caucus (RFC) recognized the third anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Together with House Democratic Leadership, the Democratic Women’s Caucus, and our coalition partners, RFC marked this milestone with impactful events, digital mobilization, and the reintroduction of the landmark Women’s Health Protection Act.
Tuesday, June 24:
RFC Task Force Chair Rep. Judy Chu reintroduced H.R. 12, the Women’s Health Protection Act, alongside RFC Co-Chair Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Lois Frankel, and Veronica Escobar and with over 200 original cosponsors joining in solidarity. Joined by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernandez, the Members held a press conference to mark the third anniversary of Dobbs and the reintroduction of this critical bill.
“Three years ago, I was in the bleachers at our daughter’s eighth grade graduation, filled with immense pride and hope at this milestone that she had achieved. And, while at that graduation, learned in real time that Roe had been struck down. And I was immediately filled with dread and a heaviness, sobered by the fact that my daughter would be going to sleep with fewer rights than she woke up with that morning,” said RFC Co-Chair Ayanna Pressley. “In the three years since, we have heard horrific testimony in this climate of criminalization of patients, providers, and prescribers. And their loved ones who have been denied care, denied their dignity, and even robbed of their lives. Reproductive freedom, abortion care, health care—this is an issue of consequence to millions in this country.”
“Restoring the right to abortion nationwide is one of House Democrats’ top priorities,” said author of the Women’s Health Protection Act and RFC Task Force Chair Judy Chu. “Let me be clear: we are all standing here because every person, no matter their circumstances, no matter how they became pregnant, deserves dignity, safety and care in seeking an abortion. You should not have more rights if you get pregnant in California than if you get pregnant in Texas. You should not have to wait in a parking lot bleeding until you are sick enough to get care. And most of all, because no one, not the President, not a Supreme Court Justice, not your partner, should be able to force you to remain pregnant if you do not wish to be. Our message today is loud and clear: we will keep fighting until we achieve full reproductive freedom and justice in America.”
Dozens of House Democrats joined the Reproductive Freedom Caucus for a digital amplification of the Dobbs anniversary, storming social media with graphics, videos, and statements highlighting House Democrats’ nonstop fight for reproductive rights and freedom.
See the full Dobbs press conference here. See and share RFC’s Dobbs anniversary statement on X here and Bluesky here. See and share Rep. Chu’s Democratic Daily Download on the fight for reproductive freedom on X here and Bluesky here.
RFC Abortion Rights and Access Task Force Chair Jennifer McClellan then joined with the Tri-Caucus and coalition partners to convene a panel and personal dialogue with abortion storytellers. RFC Co-Chair Ayanna Pressley, Senator Tammy Duckworth, and RFC members were in attendance for this powerful event, which featured providers, patients, and advocates from across the country sharing their stories on why legislation is needed to restore and protect access to reproductive health care.
Wednesday, June 25:
As the week continued, RFC Co-Chair Ayanna Pressley held a virtual roundtable with state lawmakers championing the reproductive freedom fight in legislatures across the country. RFC was proud to welcome Representatives Donna Howard of Texas, Anna Eskamani of Florida, and Meg Froelich of Colorado and Senators Lea Webb of New York and Becca Rausch of Massachusetts, who joined RFC Members for a dialogue that amplified the urgent challenges at the state level in the aftermath of Dobbs. The legislators shared firsthand accounts of navigating hostile legislative environments, passing proactive protections, and building coalitions with impacted communities.
Thursday, June 26:
Finally, the Democratic Women’s Caucus and Reproductive Freedom Caucus, the Steering and Policy Committee, and Democratic leadership held a timely shadow hearing to hear testimony on the ongoing reproductive health care crisis post-Dobbs. Members heard from a patient storyteller, Heather, and a Utah reproductive health care provider, Dr. Cara Heuser, as well as state lawmaker from Tennessee Senator London Lamar, and President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Alexis McGill Johnson. The panelists detailed the devastating personal and public health consequences of abortion bans and clinic closures, especially for marginalized communities. The hearing served as a powerful forum for accountability, public education, and a call for federal legislative action to restore and protect reproductive freedom nationwide.
“For us, Tuesday was a day just like any other Tuesday. It was a day where we fight like hell against the Republicans’ assault on reproductive freedom,” said RFC Co-Chair Diana DeGette. “The devastating consequences of the Dobbs decision only continued to grow with time, and the GOP assaults on reproductive freedom keep coming…Now, of course, Donald Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill would ‘defund’ Planned Parenthood, slash Medicaid—which pays for half of all [births] in this country—and he tried to ban abortion coverage in [Affordable Care Act] plans…I want to thank all of the panel for being with us today. We continue to have to call out these issues, tell our stories, talk about what’s happening to all of us.”
“I very much look forward to a day where people do not have to relive their traumas in order to compel action from their government. But for so long as that is the case, we are exceedingly grateful for your willingness to do so,” said RFC Co-Chair Ayanna Pressley. “The shame is not in seeking abortion care. People who seek abortion care are people you worship with, who you work with, people you live with, people you love. The only shame is that there are callous, ignorant individuals who seek to deny our full freedoms and bodily autonomy—who are working overtime to deny you that which is a fundamental right. And that is health care.”
Watch the full recap of the House Democratic hearing on GOP attacks on reproductive freedom here. See and share Co-Chair Pressley’s Democratic Daily Download on the GOP attacks on reproductive freedom on X here and Bluesky here.
As we move into July, our fight continues. RFC Members continue to push back against the GOP attacks on reproductive health care in the Big, Ugly Bill. We stand unapologetically with Planned Parenthood as Congressional Republicans and extreme Supreme Court Justices seek to “defund” its health centers and strip over 1 million Americans of essential health care access. With a key House vote expected in the coming hours, we stand together stronger and louder than ever for the people and for reproductive freedom.
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