Eighty-three House Democrats signed a letter calling on President Biden and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to declare a public health emergency to mitigate the “full-scale reproductive health crisis” from the Supreme Court overturning the Roe abortion case vs. Wade. “The Supreme Court’s radical and dangerous decision in Dobbs v. . “It has also plunged our health system into a state of uncertainty and turmoil that threatens the lives of patients.” In Dobbs, the Court overturned Roe, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion in all 50 states, striking down state laws. The recent decision returns the button issue to states where Democratic-controlled legislatures have codified Roe and Republican-controlled legislatures have acted to protect the unborn. “Banning abortion may unnecessarily prevent life-saving medical procedures in the event of pregnancy complications or loss,” Democrats argued in the letter. “Health experts warn that in the wake of this devastating decision, the U.S. maternal mortality rate — already the highest in the developed world — is certain to rise, with a disproportionate impact on communities of color.” DEMOCRATS REJOICE, DEMOCRATS RAGE AFTER SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS ROE V. WADE President Biden speaks on inflation and supply chain issues at the Port of Los Angeles, Friday, June 10, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Democrats argued for federal government intervention, arguing that “the effects of this decision are not limited to health systems in states where abortion is now illegal.” They cited “the knock-on effects of state laws banning abortion on the health systems of neighboring states that protect the legal right to abortion. Abortion providers reported that patients in need of abortion are seeking care in other states, putting unprecedented pressure on limited resources and delaying residents’ care.” Lawmakers urged Biden to “issue a declaration of a national emergency” under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, the Public Health Act and the Public Emergency Preparedness and Preparedness Act. “As we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, a public health emergency declaration can provide significant new authority and flexibility for a federal emergency response,” they wrote. “Related activities may include, but are not limited to, deployments of Public Health Service Corps teams, Medicaid State plan modification flexibilities to support safe states, and the ability to expedite access to new drugs approved for abortion.” Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, center left, and Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, left, with Rep. Chris Turner, chairman of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, welcome Democratic members of the Texas Legislature to a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 13, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Many prominent Democrats signed the letter, including Rep. Jerry Nadler, DN.Y. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas; Katie Porter, D-Calif.; and Al Greene, D-Texas. While Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., did not sign it, her allies such as Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., did. SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN ARRESTED FOR ATTACKING PREGNANCY CRISIS CENTERS: ‘IT’S BAD’ Democrats have previously called for “more fight” from the president on abortion, calling his response to Dobbs “painfully inadequate.” Biden and Becerra have moved to protect medication abortions, and Attorney General Merrick Garland has said the Biden administration will fight any effort by pro-life lawmakers to prevent women from crossing state lines to get an abortion. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., appears in the Rayburn Room of the U.S. Capitol during a group photo with the Congressional Black Caucus, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation and a public health expert, warned on Twitter that when it comes to abortion, “a public health emergency could be a temporary solution, but it could also further politicize public health”. He added that “access to abortion (like any health care procedure) should not depend on political party control.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Republicans have repeatedly blasted Democrats for allegedly abusing the power of public emergency declarations during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the health issue, critics have noted that Republican pro-life bills do not ban ectopic pregnancies, contrary to claims by Democrats, including Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., who signed the letter. George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley condemned this claim as not only false, but “dangerous.” Tyler O’Neil is a contributor at Fox News. On Twitter: @Tyler2ONEil. News tips can be sent to: [email protected]
