Senators Shaheen, Hassan Join in Introducing Legislation to Protect Women’s Access to Reproductive Health Care

Senators Shaheen, Hassan Join in Introducing Legislation to Protect Women's Access to Reproductive Health Care

WASHINGTON - Today, building on their efforts to protect women's access to critical health services, Senators Shaheen and Hassan joined dozens of their colleagues in introducing the Women's Health Protection Act.

The Women's Health Protection Act would protect a woman's right to make her own health care decisions by stopping restrictive regulations and laws - such as those in place in states including Texas and Wisconsin - intended to curtail reproductive health services for women.

"Women's reproductive healthcare remains under constant assault from restrictive state measures and Republican leadership in Congress," said Senator Shaheen. "The Women's Health Protection Act is about respecting women's access to healthcare services and respecting women's constitutionally protected right to make our own reproductive choices."

"The Supreme Court's decision last year in Whole Woman's Health v Hellerstedt was a critical victory, but politicians in Washington and across America continue fighting to restrict a woman's constitutionally protected right to make her own health care decisions and chart her own destiny, " said Senator Hassan. "I'm proud to join in introducing the Women's Health Protection Act to put in place federal protections to ensure that every woman -- no matter her zip code -- has the freedom to make her own health care decisions."

The Women's Health Protection Act has 40 cosponsors in the Senate and 102 cosponsors in the House. The legislation would prohibit laws that impose burdensome requirements on access to reproductive health services such as requiring doctors to perform tests and procedures that doctors have deemed unnecessary or preventing doctors from prescribing and dispensing medication as is medically appropriate.

Other examples of laws that make it more difficult for a woman to access an abortion include: restrictions on medical training for future abortion providers, requirements concerning the physical layout of clinics where abortions are performed, and forced waiting periods for patients.

###