In Visit to Metro East’s Hope Clinic, Duckworth Underscores What’s at Stake if Roe v. Wade is Overturned

[GRANITE CITY, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited Hope Clinic, an abortion provider in the Metro East, to meet with the facility’s leadership and discuss how the clinic—and all Americans’ rights—could be impacted if Roe v. Wade is overturned and a constitutional right is taken away from Americans for one of the first times in our nation’s history. Duckworth met with the clinic’s director Dr. Erin King and other staff to share her support for ensuring women everywhere can access safe and necessary healthcare. Photos from today’s visit are available here.

“The work of Hope Clinic has been critically important for years – but with the Supreme Court appearing ready to take away Americans’ constitutional rights for one of the first time in our nation’s history and our neighboring states poised to ban abortion outright, the importance of this clinic, and the work they do, will only continue to grow,” Duckworth said. “And while I’m proud that Illinois has some of the strongest protections for women’s health in the country, I’m troubled these protections could be at risk as well. I refuse to let my daughters grow up in a world with fewer rights than I had, and I won’t stop working to codify Roe v. Wade into law and ensure reproductive freedoms are protected for all women.”

With its proximity to Missouri, Hope Clinic has served as a vital resource for women traveling from out of state for access to care. Missouri’s state-level abortion laws are some of the harshest in the nation, and if Roe v. Wade is overturned, abortion will immediately become outlawed and individuals who knowingly perform or induce abortion could face felony charges.

Duckworth has made protecting and expanding access to essential women’s healthcare a top priority. This week she voted for the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), legislation that would help protect women’s constitutional right to choose, which was ultimately blocked by Senate Republicans. In a speech on the Senate floor she shared her support of Americans’ reproductive rights and urged her colleagues to pass the WHPA. Additionally, Duckworth is the lead sponsor of the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Healthcare (EACH) Act, which would end the Hyde Amendment and lift unjust abortion coverage restrictions for those who depend on Medicaid and other government-sponsored plans.

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