FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
13 July 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) voted to pass H.R. 8297, The Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022, the second in a series of bills the House passed to shore up protections for women seeking abortions across the country.
The legislation takes aim at Republican-controlled state legislatures seeking to outlaw abortion by ensuring those traveling across state lines are not punished for seeking to end their pregnancy in a state where it is still legal to do so.
“Congress will not stand by while state legislators rip reproductive rights out of the hands of women and allow people to sue them should they seek an abortion,” said Rep. Barragán. “We will continue to pass bold legislation to protect the right to choose. This bill is an important step in allowing those living in Republican-controlled states to travel elsewhere to receive abortion care.”
“However, this bill is only a step. Congress and the Biden Administration are fighting on every avenue to restore this fundamental right. We must expand the Supreme Court, codify Roe into law, and continue to fight for reproductive health clinics in low-income areas.”
The Ensuring Access to Abortion Act protects Americans against antiabortion groups and officials by ensuring no person acting under state law can prevent, restrict, impede, or otherwise retaliate against a person traveling across state lines to obtain a lawful abortion. This also includes citizens deputized by states to seek out a person for obtaining an abortion.
Additionally, the legislation prohibits interference against:
- A healthcare provider’s ability to provide abortions that are lawful in the state in which the service is to be provided,
- A person’s ability to assist a healthcare provider in completing an abortion in a state where it is lawful to do so,
- A person or entity’s ability to assist someone who is traveling across state lines to obtain an abortion,
- The movement of any drug approved or licensed by the Food and Drug Administration for the termination of pregnancies.
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Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington. She serves as chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Security, and on the House Energy and Commerce Health, Energy, and Environment & Climate Change Subcommittees.