Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) held a roundtable on the state of women’s reproductive health care in Texas.  The event was held shortly before the Texas “trigger” law went into effect, banning nearly all abortions in the State of Texas.  State Representative Ann Johnson (HD-134) joined Congresswoman Fletcher and reproductive health care providers from Houston who shared their perspectives on the effects of Texas’ new abortion laws and the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. 

“Texas is in a reproductive health care crisis,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “With so many stories of confusion among patients in Texas—as well as lack of access to information and fears about access to care—I am grateful to the local reproductive health care providers for sharing their experiences and insights on the impacts of these laws.  What is happening to women in our community and across the state is unconscionable.  It is also not supported by the vast majority of Texans who believe that these most personal decisions belong to patients and their families in consultation with their doctors.  I am committed to protecting the health, privacy, dignity, and freedom of women and families across Texas and across our country.  This discussion provided important insights on all we must do to make that possible, and I am grateful to all who participated.”

Congresswoman Fletcher continues to lead efforts to protect access to abortion and to protect the data of people seeking reproductive health care.  In July, the House passed her bill, the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, H.R. 8297, to protect the right to travel between the states for abortion.  She also co-led the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act, H.R. 8452, with Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) to establish a grant program to help ease the financial burden of people forced to travel, sometimes long distances, to access abortion care.   Congresswoman Fletcher is also an original cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which establishes a statutory federal right to abortion free from medically unnecessary restrictions.