President Joe Biden has once again declared his readiness to move for the codification of Roe v. Wade should Democrats get a majority in Congress.
Speaking at an event organised by the Democratic National Committee on Tuesday, 18th October, 2022, President Biden urged Americans to vote for Democrat representatives promising that, Roe v. Wade will be the first bill he takes to Congress if Democrats control the House.
“Is so critical to elect more democratic Senators to the United State Senate and more democrats to keep control of the House of Representatives. Folks if we do that, here is the promise I make to you and the American people, the first bill that I will send to Congress is to codify Roe v. Wade.”
President Biden
President Biden claimed that, decisions on women’s reproductive health are supposed to be personal, but there are some who intend to make them political.
He said that, the portion of Dobb’s decision which reads, ‘women are not without electoral or political power’ “is one of the most extraordinary parts of the decision.”
It presupposes that, women’s reproductive health issues are in the hands of political actors. This President Biden finds unacceptable.
Why Should Americans Choose Democrats?
President Biden spoke about the position of his Republican opponents on abortion rights.
Quoting notable Republicans like Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, President Biden mentioned that, Republicans are seeking a National ban on abortion rights.
“If they [Democrats] take control of the House, our work is far from done.”
Mitch McConnell, Republican Leader
According to President Biden, Mitch McConnell said so because, Republicans are working for a Nationwide ban on abortion rights.
President Biden, appealed to Americans to vote for Democrat representatives so they can restore abortion rights.
“Together we will restore the right to choose for every woman in every State of America. So vote … we can do this if we vote.”
President Biden
President Biden wants all Americans to rally behind Democrat aspirants in the upcoming elections because, “if Republicans get their way with the National ban, it won’t matter where you live in America”
He explained that should Democrats control the House, a bill to codify Roe v. Wade will be accepted by the House, and in January, he will append his signature to the bill to mark 50 years since Roe v. Wade was first decided as “the law of the land.”
Biden’s Actions After the Dobb’s Decision
On 1st July, 2022, President Biden in a meeting with Democrat Governors, expressed his displeasure at the Court’s decision. Calling the Supreme Court extremist.
“I share the public outrage to this extremist court, that’s committed to moving America backwards with fewer rights, less autonomy, and politicians invading the most personal decisions.”
President Biden
He signed an order which allows women in States that do not allow abortions to travel to other States where abortions are accepted if they want to terminate their pregnancies.
“Immediately the Dobb’s decision came down, I signed an order and my administration took a number of actions to protect the access to reproductive healthcare including emergency medical care. ”
President Biden
The order also “protect[s] the privacy of centred health information preventing States from tracking women that are seeking help.”
Roe v. Wade And The Dobb’s Decision
In 1969, Norman McCorvey nicknamed ‘Jane Roe’ was not allowed to abort her baby because her pregnancy did not pose any threat to her life.
This lead to years of legal battles named after ‘Jane Roe’ who was the plantiff and district Attorney for Dallas County, Texas, Henry Wade.
On 22nd January, 1973, the Supreme Court’s legalised abortion on the grounds that, the Constitution of the United States conferred abortion rights.
The decision by the Supreme Court popularly referred to as Dobb’s decision has since sparked many religious, moral and political debates.
On the 24th of June this year, Roe v. Wade was officially overturned by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court decision made unit States within America responsible for either out rightly banning abortion or allowing it.
The decision of the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade has fueled many political debates and it appears it’s going to influence voter choice in the upcoming Congress elections as well.
However, a poll conducted by New York Times/Siena College, perks the economy as the prime issue that will influence voters in the upcoming elections. According to the report, only about 5% of voters view abortion rights as a pressing issue.
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