Pascrell Slams Supreme Court Over Texas Abortion Law

PATERSON, NJ — After the Texas restrictive abortion law took effect this morning, U.S. Rep Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) quickly condemned the Supreme Court’s lack of intervention. The new law, if allowed to remain in force, will be the most severe abortion restriction since Roe v. Wade legalized abortion across the country in 1973.

“While America was sleeping, in the dead of last night, the Supreme Court for all intents and purposes overruled Roe v. Wade. In one cowardly, silent action the rightwing justices took a hacksaw to 48 years of precedent,” said Rep. Pascrell.

“A woman’s right to choose is protected by the United States Constitution. A handful of unelected judges, several of whom occupy seats stolen by Mitch McConnell, have no right to impose their radical agenda on hundreds of millions of Americans.”

According to the Associated Press, this Texas law, which was signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in May, prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Typically, this occurs around six weeks from conception — often before most women even know they’re pregnant.

Abortion providers argue that the law would ban 85% of abortions in Texas and, in effect, force many clinics to shut down. At least 12 other states have enacted bans on early-term abortions, but they’ve all been blocked from going into effect.

This Texas law is particularly unusual because officials are not the ones responsible for enforcing it. Instead, private citizens are allowed to sue abortion providers and anyone involved in facilitating abortions, including anyone who drives a woman to an abortion clinic. Under the law, anyone who successfully sues someone would be entitled to at least $10,000.

In his statement, Rep. Pascrell argued that the Supreme Court’s inaction on this law was an attempt to conceal their actions and ultimately revoke the control women have over their bodies.

“Rather than issue a written statement or opinion, they prefer to hide their actions and hope you wouldn’t notice. We noticed,” said Rep. Pascrell.

“For decades Republicans have packed the courts with political operatives to impose by fiat policies they can’t win at the ballot box. This action by the Roberts Court is a culmination of their sinister efforts. Their end goal is punishing women for controlling their own bodies and doctors for practicing medicine. All Americans must know what’s at stake. This must not stand.”