Illinois Congresswoman Bustos Votes to Protect Right to Contraception
Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) voted to pass the Right to Contraception Act – legislation to protect access to birth control in the wake of the Supreme Court’s assault on reproductive rights.
The legislation would guarantee the right to obtain and use birth control as established in Griswold v. Connecticut, including oral contraception, emergency contraception and IUDs. The bill would also grant the Attorney General the ability to take civil action against any state or government official that implements or enforces legislation preventing access to these contraceptives.
Cheri Bustos
“There is nothing we hold more sacred as Americans than our personal freedoms – and it’s vital that we can continue to make our own health care decisions without government involvement,” said Congresswoman Bustos. “As reproductive rights and access to contraception come under attack by radical politicians at every level of government, I’m working with my colleagues to enshrine these rights in federal law. Today’s vote to protect access to contraception is an important step toward ensuring our most fundamental rights and freedoms are protected under law.”
In a concurring opinion released last month following the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas argued that the Supreme Court should reconsider past rulings guaranteeing rights to contraception access – as well as same-sex marriage and other previously-recognized constitutional rights. And in 2021 alone, at least four states tried to ban access to some or all contraceptives – while other states have targeted contraception by restricting Medicaid funding for providers of birth control.
The Right to Contraception Act has been endorsed by the National Women’s Law Center, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, Power to Decide, National Partnership for Women & Families, Reproductive Health Access Project, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Catholics for Choice, National Organization for Women, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Women’s Health Network and Urge: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity.
