Rep. Stansbury Votes to Protect Access to Contraception Nationwide
Rep. Stansbury cosponsored the bill following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and fundamental privacy rights
WASHINGTON — Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a decision that forecasts threats to the right to contraception and other rights that stem from the right to privacy guaranteed under the 14th Amendment, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the Right to Contraception Act (H.R. 8373) to ensure that neither individual states nor the Supreme Court can limit people’s access to contraceptives.
The Right to Contraception Act, which Rep. Stansbury cosponsors, establishes a federal statutory right to obtain contraceptives and protects health providers who provide contraception, contraceptives, and information related to contraception. The bill now moves to the Senate.
“It is inconceivable that in 2022 we have to act to protect our right to access contraception. Over the last several weeks, the Supreme Court’s activist conservative majority didn’t just overturn reproductive rights—it made clear that the right to privacy and the right to access contraception are in danger,” said Rep. Stansbury. “That’s why I cosponsored and helped pass the Right to Contraception Act today in the House and why I am urging the Senate to protect the rights of millions of Americans to access contraception and make basic health care decisions.
As Republican-led states refuse to rule out banning contraception as a next step following the decision in Dobbs, the Right to Contraception Act is critical to protecting contraception as fundamental to the health and human rights of all Americans.
The Right to Contraception Act:
- Affirms contraception as a constitutional right and protects health care providers: Establishes a statutory right to obtain contraceptives and engage in contraception, and for health care providers to provide contraceptives, contraception, and information related to contraception.
- Protects against restrictive state laws: Protects against any state laws that attempt to restrict access to contraceptives and affirms the Attorney General’s enforcement authority to bring civil actions against any state that attempts to do so.
- Enforces our right to obtain contraceptives: Establishes a private right of action for individuals to enforce their right to obtain contraceptives and for health care providers to enforce their right to provide contraceptives and information related to contraception.
The full text of the Right to Contraception Act (H.R. 8373) is available here.