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By Rachel Dobkin
Weekend Reporter
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Democratic Representatives Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Emilia Sykes of Ohio on Thursday introduced a resolution to make clear that women in every state should be allowed to receive necessary emergency care, including abortions.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling in June 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade, which removed federal protections for abortion and left it up to the states to decide, 22 states created some type of abortion ban.
These bans have created confusion among doctors who want to provide care for pregnant patients whose lives are in danger, but fear they may lose their medical license, be sued or even criminally charged for performing an emergency abortion.
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"It's an outrage," Sherrill said of an August report by the Associated Press that found over 100 pregnant women who sought emergency help have been denied care or negligently treated since 2022. The report was cited by lawmakers when introducing the resolution on Thursday.
The congresswoman continued: "Lives are at risk and despite clear federal law and additional guidance from the Biden administration, states across the country are refusing to treat pregnant women in emergencies."
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The Supreme Court could have put an end to the confusion surrounding emergency-room abortions in its June ruling on Moyle v. United States, a case that challenged Idaho's near-total abortion ban. Instead, it decided to temporarily allow Idaho hospitals to provide emergency abortions and sent the case back to the lower courts.
Sykes said in a news release on Thursday, "The Supreme Court's ruling in Moyle v. United States only increased this chaos and uncertainty, leaving more women in danger. This is completely unacceptable."
The resolution calls for the House to stand behind the idea "that every person has the basic right to emergency health care, including abortion care."
However, it is unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled chamber, especially less than two months before this year's general election, in which abortion is a major issue.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, painted a powerful picture of what abortion access looks like in a post-Dobbs America during Tuesday night's debate against former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee.
"You want to talk about this is what people wanted? Pregnant women who want to carry a pregnancy to term, suffering from a miscarriage, being denied care in an emergency room because health care providers are afraid they might go to jail and she's bleeding out in a car in the parking lot?" Harris said.
The Democratic nominee has said that if she is elected and Congress gives her a bill restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade, she would sign it. Trump, conversely, has taken credit for the Dobbs decision and said he wants to continue allowing states to decide the handling of abortion rights. The Dobbs ruling was decided 6-3 after Trump nominated three conservative justices to the bench during his tenure.
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.
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