Reproductive Rights

I have been a strong supporter of women’s reproductive rights throughout my time in Congress. I believe that the decision to have an abortion is best left as a private decision between a woman and her doctor, not by politicians and the government.

In June of 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Clinic that overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that established a constitutionally protected right to an abortion. This decision dismantled nearly 50 years of settled judicial precedent for reproductive rights, the right to abortion care, and the right to privacy and autonomy. Now, millions of women across the nation are being denied the right to make personal and private health care decisions and, in certain instances, are even criminalized for doing so.

I’m proud that Illinois has already codified Roe into law and preserved access to safe abortion care for generations to come. But, make no mistake: far-right Republicans in Congress remain intent on passing a nationwide abortion ban that would override state laws like in Illinois.

That’s why I’m committed to passing legislation supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans to codify Roe’s protections and other reproductive health freedoms on a national scale. The Women’s Health Protection Act, which I was proud to help pass for a second time in July 2022, would enshrine access to safe abortion care and reproductive health care into federal law. I was also proud to vote for the Right to Contraception Act, which would place the right to access and use contraception into federal law. 

As long as I have a vote in Congress, I’ll fight to defend women’s bodily autonomy and the right for every American to access reproductive health care.