Lawmakers Rally For Abortion Rights To Remain In Pennsylvania

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA —On the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, allowing states to ban abortions, two U.S. lawmakers representing Chester and Delaware counties hosted a press conference to remind voters of the importance of protecting women’s rights to an abortion.

In Pennsylvania, abortions are legal for up to 24 weeks. The law has not changed in Pennsylvania since the June 24 Supreme Court decision.

U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Mary Gay Scanlon called on voters to elect public officials who believe that women should maintain their right to make their own decisions.

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party on Friday organized the virtual press conference ahead of the 2024 primary, in which Sen. Bob Casey is up for re-election.

The lawmakers said Pennsylvania cannot afford to elect candidates who are against women’s rights.

“There is a lot at stake for our families,” Houlahan, who represents all of Chester County and portions of Berks, said.

Scanlon said that voters in her district support allowing women to make their own decisions.

“This is a critical issue,” she said “I have 19 colleges in my district.”

The lawmakers said that Pennsylvania is thankful that both Democratic senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman are supportive of women’s rights.

Two Philadelphia area doctors, Dr. Sherry Blumenthal and Anuaha Viswanathan, spoke about the dangers of limiting abortion rights.

Blumenthal, a retired obstetrician and board member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, said in the case of ectopic pregnancies, where a fertilized egg grows out of the uterus, women’s lives may be threatened.

Viswanathan, a Philadelphia area doctor, said she had a difficult pregnancy and had no choice but to end it.

“I am grateful that I was able to go home,” she said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was an attorney general when the Supreme Court decision was rendered, said he will protect women’s rights to have abortions.

In January 2022, a resolution proposing an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution that there is no right to abortion or funding for an abortion was introduced. There have been no votes on the bill.

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, who was the Republican candidate for governor, said in a statement in May — when a draft of the final decision was leaked that indicated the court was about to overturn Roe — that he supports overturning Roe.

“The time is now for action to support the rights of the unborn,” he said in the May 3 statement.