Pallone: Trump & Republicans Want to Completely Eliminate Women’s Access to Health Care and Destroy Our Democracy

Long Branch, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) called for federal protection of the right to full reproductive health care services, including abortion, contraception, and IVF. Recently, former President Trump said states have the right to monitor pregnancies, and House Republicans passed extreme bills that would further subvert women’s reproductive rights by misleading, tricking, and shaming them at crisis pregnancy centers and by failing to address health care needs of pregnant students.

“We’re here today because Donald Trump and the Republican Party will stop at nothing until they enact a nationwide abortion ban. We’re here today to say that Trump is responsible for destroying the nationwide protections enshrined in Roe v. Wade, and we will not tolerate any politician from New Jersey to California stripping away the right to full reproductive health care.” Pallone said. “House Democrats are committed to restoring reproductive freedom so that people - not politicians - can make their own health care decisions. Our legislative track record is clear – House Democrats are fighting to protect access to birth control, fertility services like IVF, and abortion care.”

House Democrats have introduced multiple bills to protect a woman’s right to reproductive health care. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee last Congress, Pallone led House passage of legislation to restore Roe v. Wade’s protections nationwide ensuring all Americans – regardless of where they live – can make their own decisions about their lives and their futures. The Women’s Health Protection Act would ensure that health care providers have a statutory right to provide abortion care and patients have a statutory right to receive that care, free from state bans and restrictions that are only intended to impede or block access. It would protect Americans from extremist Republican politicians and antiabortion groups by ensuring no person acting under state law can prevent, restrict, impede, or otherwise retaliate against a person traveling across state lines to obtain a lawful abortion. The Right to Contraception Act would protect the statutory right to contraception nationwide.

“Former President Trump has made it clear time and time again that he’s willing to say and do anything to wield power,” Pallone continued. “He’s sending powerful warning signs that he will stop at nothing from destroying the rights we’ve codified through federal law and the Supreme Court. There is simply too much at stake in New Jersey and across the country to turn the clock back on the progress we’ve made and let a half-baked business man ruin the greatest country in the world.

“We know the climate crisis is here, which is why we cannot stop our transition to renewable energy sources, including offshore wind. By investing in clean energy, we are revitalizing manufacturing, growing the domestic supply chain, creating new, good-paying jobs right here in New Jersey that will help our state’s economy and families thrive,” Pallone concluded. “Donald Trump and Republicans are in the pocket of the fossil fuel industry, and we cannot allow their disinformation campaign about renewable energy to mislead the public about this essential transition.”

“In the nearly two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the United States Supreme Court, reproductive health care has been under attack across the country. 21 states and counting have banned or severely restricted access to abortion care. Abrotion is virtually inaccessible across the entire Southeast. Across the country, 1 in 3 American women of reproductive age, plus more trans and nonbinary people, don’t have access to abortion care in their home states,” said Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. “These individuals are forced to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to access abortion services – placing an insurmountable strain on the ability to make personal health care decisions about their bodies, families, and futures. Here in New Jersey, we’ve enacted protections against these draconian bans and restrictions. But everyone should have access to the full range of reproductive health care services, including abortion, regardless of their zip code. We’re grateful to have a champion like Congressman Pallone, who fights to ensure everyone has the care they need no matter what.”

“While former President Trump pals around with the CEOs of the dirty fossil fuel companies promising to reverse all the recent climate action initiatives, we must keep our eyes on the prize of a fossil fuel free future and the cleaner air and good local jobs that come with it. The climate crisis isn’t something that’s in the distant future — it’s here and impacting our communities now with more intense and frequent storms, wildfires, extreme heat, and even tornadoes,” said Ed Potosnak, Executive Director, New Jersey LCV. “No matter how much misinformation Trump and his MAGA supporters spew, we know the greatest threat to our ocean is climate change itself, and responsibly developed offshore wind will save our oceans and wildlife. We appreciate Congressman Pallone’s continued commitment to a clean, renewable, and just energy future, that’s healthier with less asthma and cancer, with good-paying union jobs in the new green economy, a place our children and grandchildren will be proud to call home.”

“ASRM sincerely appreciates Congressman Pallone's initiative in hosting a dialogue addressing the attacks on reproductive health and rights, particularly regarding keeping IVF safe and accessible to all who want to build their families of their choice,” said Jessie Losch, Government Affairs Manager, American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). “Such gatherings are crucial for raising awareness, fostering understanding, and pushing for policy change. We look forward to continued collaboration and meaningful action to ensure access to reproductive healthcare for all, including working with the Congressman and his staff on strengthening and then passing the Access to Family Building Act.”

“From the many queer and trans people who can get pregnant to the very concept of bodily autonomy in jeopardy, reproductive freedom is an LGBTQ+ issue,” said Layla Orlando, Director of Health Equity & Wellness for Garden State Equality (she/her). “Everyone deserves the right to make the private medical decisions that are best for them, whether that's accessing contraceptives, transgender healthcare, education, parenting resources, or assisted reproductive medicine — the last of which we made more accessible for same-sex couples and single parents in New Jersey earlier this year.”

“We need elected officials to stop politicizing our clean energy transition and the technologies and tools that are going to give us better public health, more jobs, and a chance at better resiliency against severe weather and climate change. The future of our communities is on the line if we do not take drastic action now,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, Director of the NJ Sierra Club. “Trump’s irresponsible game of positioning non-fossil fuel energy as a threat to the public is just self-interest and is a lie to the very people we need to protect.”