(PM.) On Friday, President Joe Biden signed an executive order titled “Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care,” which aims to protect access to “safe and legal abortion” across the country.
Addressing the nation shortly before signing the order, Biden slammed the Supreme Court for their ruling in the case of Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health, which turned over the decision on the legality of abortion over to individual states.
“This was not a decision driven by the Constitution, and despite what those justices, the majority said, this was not a decision driven by history,” Biden said.
“The truth is today’s Supreme Court majority is playing fast and loose with the facts. Even 150 years ago, the common law and many state laws did not criminalize abortion early in pregnancy, which is very similar to the viability line drawn by Roe.”
“The Dobbs majority ignores that fact, and the Dobbs majority ignores that laws are enacted to protect women at the time when they were dying from unsafe abortions. This is the horrific reality that Roesought to end. The practice of medicine should not be frozen in the 19th century.”
Biden said that the decision from the Supreme Court wasn’t a “constitutional judgment,” but rather an “exercise in raw political power.”
“Your vote can make that a reality,” Biden stressed.
“Let me be clear, while I wish it had not come to this, this is the fastest route available. I’m jus stating a basic fundamental motion, the fastest way to restore Roe is to pass a national law codifying Roe,” said Biden, “which I will sign immediately upon its passage at my desk.”
The order directs the Department of Health and Human Services to “ensure all patients, including pregnant women and girls experiencing pregnancy loss, get the emergency care they need under federal law.”
In addition, the executive order will protect patient privacy and access to patient information from companies that collect and sell data.
