The White House on Monday endorsed legislation that would guarantee abortion access, The Hill reported.
The Women’s Health Protection Act, in response to Texas’ abortion ban, would protect a person’s ability to seek an abortion and for health care providers to provide abortion services, The Hill said.
The White House previously would not support the bill, saying it was looking into options to codify Roe v. Wade.
The Texas law bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, and gives private citizens the power to enforce it by enabling them to sue abortion providers and anyone who “aids or abets” an abortion after six weeks.
“In the wake of Texas’ unprecedented attack, it has never been more important to codify this constitutional right and to strengthen health care access for all women, regardless of where they live,” according to a statement of administration policy from the Office of Management and Budget.
“[The Texas law] impairs women’s access to critical reproductive health care, particularly affecting communities of color, individuals with low incomes, and those who live in rural or underserved communities.”
The Women’s Health Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., will be taken up by the House Rules Committee.
“Our daughters and granddaughters deserve the same rights that their mothers and grandmothers fought for and won — and that a clear majority of the American people support.’ Thank you @POTUS for supporting #WHPA. Abortion care is a right and we will not go back! #BansOffOurBodies,” Chu tweeted Monday afternoon.
The Women’s Health Protection Act, however, faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where Republicans would likely filibuster it, The Hill said.
The Senate companion legislation has the support of 48 of 50 members of the Democrat caucus. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Bob Casey, D-Pa., have not signed on as co-sponsors.
The White House also criticized the Texas law for turning private citizens “into bounty hunters.”
“The constitutional rights of women are essential to the health, safety, and progress of our nation,” the statement said. “Our daughters and granddaughters deserve the same rights that their mothers and grandmothers fought for and won — and that a clear majority of the American people support. We will not allow this country to go backwards on women’s equality.”
