A few things on my mind

The seriousness of Friday's Supreme Court decision overruling Roe and Casey is weighing heavily on me – and on the majority of people across the county. The consequences cannot be overstated; we have lost a crucial right to bodily autonomy, and because of this people will die.

Here are a few things that have been on my mind:

I am thankful that Oregon has the most comprehensive reproductive health policy in the country. Abortion is still legal in Oregon. And because of strong leadership at the state level, our state will now be a haven for those who need care.

Elections matter. The consequences of Trump's 2016 election will be felt for generations to come. And now, to counter that, we must not only protect but expand the Democratic majorities in 2022. Oregon has three competitive House seats with pro-choice women candidates, including a pick-up opportunity for Democrats.

We will fight back. Although the House has already passed legislation to make abortion legal in all 50 states, it now must pass the Senate. On Thursday, I introduced bicameral legislation to stop anti-abortion misinformation by Crisis Pregnancy Centers. There is more that Congress and the President can do right now to make a difference in the lives of those people seeking abortion care, and we won't give up the fight.

Right now, confidence in the Supreme Court is at an all-time low. Several of the justices were appointed by presidents who did not win the popular vote, and the majority of Americans believe that the Court's decision was based on politics rather than law. And outrageously, some of the justices who joined the opinion overturning Roe said in meetings and in confirmation hearings under oath that the case was an important precedent.

Additionally, I am extremely concerned about Justice Thomas's concurrence, which suggests overturning other Supreme Court decisions based on privacy rights, including those that protect contraception and crucial LGBTQ+ rights like marriage. We must consider all options to reform or expand the court.

I want to thank those of you who supported the National Network of Abortion funds last month when we first learned of the Supreme Court's intent to overturn Roe v. Wade. If you are able to make a donation today, please do so. Organizations like this will be instrumental in helping women in states where abortion is now outlawed get the care they need.

More soon,

Suzanne