As the first anniversary of the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade approaches, several House Democrats declined to clarify their stance on abortion access up to the moment of birth when questioned by Fox News Digital. Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA), Adam Schiff (CA), Juan Vargas (CA), and Abigail Spanberger (VA) avoided directly answering whether they support any restrictions on abortion. While Vargas emphasized his belief that women should control their healthcare decisions, the other representatives largely sidestepped the issue.
In contrast, House Republicans Tim Burchett (TN) and Nick Langworthy (NY) expressed strong opposition to late-term abortion. Burchett stated his belief that abortion is murder, while Langworthy criticized New York's abortion laws, characterizing late-term abortion as "murder." This questioning of lawmakers coincides with pro-life rallies in Washington, D.C., commemorating the anniversary of the Dobbs decision.
The Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling effectively ended the federal constitutional right to abortion, returning the authority to regulate abortion to individual states. This decision stemmed from a Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks. Justice Samuel Alito's opinion emphasized that the Constitution does not explicitly protect abortion rights, thereby empowering states to decide on the issue.
Earlier this year, a significant number of House Democrats voted against legislation mandating medical care for infants born alive after attempted abortions. This further highlights the ongoing debate surrounding abortion access and related legislative efforts.
