When the Supreme Court docket overturned Roe v. Wade in late June, folks instantly referred to as on President Joe Biden to do one thing to guard reproductive rights in America. It took a couple of weeks, however he listened: on July 8, Biden signed an govt order activating numerous reproductive-healthcare protections in response to the Supreme Court docket’s determination.
“It stays the coverage of my administration to help ladies’s proper to decide on and to guard and defend reproductive rights,” the Executive Order Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care Services states. “Doing so is crucial to justice, equality, and our well being, security, and progress as a nation.”
“Contemplate the problem accepted, Court docket.”
Moments earlier than signing the order, Biden delivered remarks from the Roosevelt Room of the White Home, the place he was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Xavier Becerra. Along with outlining the multipronged plan, Biden admonished the excessive court docket’s determination and predicted increased liberal-voter turnout within the coming midterm elections. “Contemplate the problem accepted, Court docket,” Biden stated. “However within the meantime, I am signing this necessary govt order.”
The order sends directives throughout federal businesses, most notably promising expanded protections for entry to remedy abortion, emergency contraception, and emergency medical look after folks searching for abortions or experiencing being pregnant loss. In an effort to guard the privateness of sufferers and medical suppliers, Biden additionally requested Lawyer Common Merrick Garland and Secretary of Homeland Safety Alejandro Mayorkas to take motion to make sure the security and safety of anybody who is likely to be searching for or offering these medical providers. He additionally requested the Federal Commerce Fee to contemplate taking additional motion to defend customers’ privateness (one thing that is been referred to as out within the dialogue round period-tracking apps, for instance) and meaningfully handle disinformation on-line. Lastly, the administration says it can collect professional bono attorneys, bar associations, and public-interest organizations collectively in a gathering to “encourage legal professionals to signify and help sufferers, suppliers, and third events lawfully searching for these providers all through the nation.”
Whereas all of it sounds promising, it is necessary to notice that the chief order doesn’t override the Supreme Court docket’s determination or create any quick adjustments within the state of affairs. The 50 states are nonetheless in a position to set their very own abortion insurance policies.
Amid criticism that the Biden administration is not working swiftly sufficient to handle dwindling reproductive rights within the nation, Biden stated the duty to codify Roe lies with Congress: “The quickest strategy to restore Roe is to cross a nationwide regulation, which I’ll signal instantly upon its passage on my desk.” He added, “The problem is exit and vote. For God’s sake, there’s an election in November. Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote.”
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