Ambler, PA – Today Governor Wolf, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, Sen. Maria Collett, Rep. Mary Jo Daley, and state and local elected officials gathered with advocates and supporters in Ambler to reaffirm a commitment to protecting reproductive rights in Pennsylvania.
“I am appalled by the legislation in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, and even here in Pennsylvania that limits a woman’s right to choose,” Gov. Wolf said. “And I’ll veto any anti-choice bill that lands on my desk. I won’t let our commonwealth go backward on reproductive rights.”
Amid recent abortion ban legislation in other states, Gov. Wolf has been steadfast in his support of reproductive rights. He spoke out against the Trump Administration’s Title X gag rule and has vetoed or vowed to veto bills that restrict reproductive rights.
Rally speakers shared their perspective on reproductive rights:
“As legislators across the country are launching reckless attacks against women’s rights, I’m proud to stand with Governor Wolf, elected officials, and patient advocates to reaffirm our commitment to fighting any similar attacks in Pennsylvania,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “Roe v. Wade is the law of the land, and as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Pennsylvania, I will not hesitate to fight to protect women’s fundamental right to access comprehensive reproductive health care.”
“This debate isn’t abstract. It’s about real women making incredibly difficult choices in painful – and often tragic – circumstances,” Rep. Madeleine Dean said. Those women don’t deserve to be judged. They deserve to be heard.”
“While Pennsylvania is not yet at the crisis-point we see in states like Alabama, Georgia and Missouri, there are legislators here who would like to see a total ban on abortions,” Sen. Maria Collett said. “That’s why I’m so thankful to Governor Wolf for loudly and forcefully standing up to them and defending women’s reproductive health choices.”
“I am delighted that Governor Wolf is here in Ambler today to stand with all of us for women’s reproductive rights,” Rep. Mary Jo Daley said. “Governor Wolf is a stalwart champion for women and their right to privacy and bodily autonomy. This is especially important when the majority party, led by Speaker Turzai, champions legislation such as HB321, a callous attempt to pit women’s reproductive rights against people with disabilities. Let’s be very clear about what HB321 is all about – a wedge between a woman and her doctor and yet another unconstitutional attempt to ban safe, legal abortion in Pennsylvania.
“For me, the essential point is that women have a fundamental right to privacy and to make their own decisions about their own bodies. The Supreme Court acknowledged this right in the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. Roe v. Wade said that any state law that forbade abortion in order to protect a fetus within the first two trimesters of pregnancy – before the seventh month – was unconstitutional.”
“From a scared young adult to a successful woman, access to the full range of reproductive health services, including abortion, has been an important part of my story and must remain an option for all,” said Jennifer Brank, patient advocate.
