Commentary: Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its final opinion in Whole Woman’s Health vs. Hellerstedt. The 5-3 ruling strikes down a Texas abortion access law.
Congressman Pearce issued the following statement:
“I am deeply disappointed in the Supreme Court's decision today. This decision will ultimately threaten the safety of both mothers and their unborn children. Defense of life is the most important moral issue of our time, and we can never speak too strongly for those that cannot speak for themselves.
“Texas enacted a sensible law that ensures the protection of women and children by requiring doctors and clinics who perform abortions to comply with the same safety standards and protocols as any other outpatient surgical center and medical practitioner. Striking down this law today is a blatant disregard for the most innocent among us, the unborn. Until we can fully repeal Roe vs. Wade, laws like this one protect women from being exploited by the abortion industry. I believe the Supreme Court is simply unqualified to determine the best safety measures and medical procedures for individuals in a State,” said Congressman Pearce.
Background: The original law, known as H.B.2 required a physician performing an abortion to have admitting privileges at a hospital within thirty miles of the location where the abortion is performed and requires the abortion center to comply with the State’s requirements for outpatient surgical centers. The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the law, but today the Supreme Court ruled the regulations are medically unnecessary and constitutes an ‘undue burden’ on a woman’s right to seek an abortion.