Skip to main content

Rep. Wild Statement in Response to Leaked Draft Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade

May 3, 2022

Allentown, PA – Representative Susan Wild issued this statement in response to media reports, confirmed by Chief Justice John Roberts, of a draft Supreme Court decision overturning a half century old precedent protecting Americans' right to choose what is best for their own lives and health:

"The draft released last night overturning Roe leaves little doubt that the ultra-right has succeeded in its decades-long effort to use the Court to achieve a fundamentalist society in which women no longer have the right to make the most personal decisions about their own bodies.

Overturning Roe means that every single member of the Court that joins this opinion will have outright lied during their confirmation hearings in which they affirmed that Roe is settled law. In a much more practical sense—it means they will stop at nothing to achieve their dystopian vision for America. Make no mistake: this decision goes far beyond abortion rights. The Court's leaked decision is a blueprint for them to come after other long-held constitutional freedoms. The right to purchase contraception. The right to marry whom you love—no matter your race or your sexual orientation.

Everything is on the line because an extremist majority of the Supreme Court has decided, despite the overwhelming majority of Americans holding views to the contrary, that the government should get to decide if, when, and under what circumstances women are allowed to seek an abortion.

In 24 states across our country, laws outlawing abortion are drafted, approved, and ready to be signed by Republican Governors just as soon as this decision is made final. In Pennsylvania, our Republican state legislature has done the same, and if we elect a Republican Governor this year abortion will be outlawed here as well. I am ashamed. And I'm scared of the still-unknown lengths to which this Court and the far-right in this country will go to impose their own radical agenda on others.

We are well past the time for the Senate to join the House in passing the Women's Health Protection Act to codify reproductive freedom. We must join hands as men and women—folks of all stripes and station in life who recognize the tragedy of this decision—to send an unmistakable message to Washington that we will not be silenced, and we will not go silently into the abyss.

Today I'm thinking of all who are immediately and personally affected by this decision. Please know that you have a friend and an ally in me. I will stop at nothing to stand up for you."

###

Issues:Health Care