Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In their latest attempt to restrict abortion access, Senate Republicans today blocked the Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act, legislation co-led by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) that would ensure health care providers can safely provide abortion care in states where it is still legal. Senator Padilla delivered a floor speech in support of the bill and called out Republicans who continue to block efforts to protect reproductive rights in America.

“California and many other states across the country refuse to turn the clock back to an era when abortions were outlawed and dangerous,” said Senator Padilla. “We must pass the Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act to protect the courageous women and men delivering essential medical care to those who need it. While Republicans continue to block our efforts to protect reproductive rights, Democrats won’t back down. In the face of unending attacks on reproductive freedom, we will not give up the fight to protect a woman’s right to safe abortion access.”

Senator Padilla is a champion for reproductive rights and is a cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would guarantee access and the right to provide abortion services in the United States and the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2022, legislation that would make it clear that it is illegal for anti-choice states to limit travel for abortion services and would empower the U.S. Attorney General and impacted individuals to bring civil action against those who restrict a person’s right to cross state lines to receive legal reproductive care. Senator Padilla visited Planned Parenthood Los Angeles last week to meet with volunteers, advocates and workers, and highlight his efforts to protect essential reproductive health care in the wake of the Dobbs decision.

Padilla’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:

Thank you, Mr. President.

On June 24th, just five and a half weeks ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Since that day, Democrats have been fighting to ensure that abortion care remains accessible.

We pushed to pass a bill that would protect the fundamental right to travel to states where abortion is still legal.

Republicans blocked it.

We pushed to pass a common-sense bill to expand access to family planning services. 

Republicans blocked it.

We pushed to codify the right to contraception.

Republicans blocked it.

At every turn, Republicans have taken extreme and out of touch positions by blocking commonsense bills.

Today, Democrats are standing up to protect doctors, nurses and other health care professionals who are increasingly under attack — just for doing their jobs and providing LEGAL abortion care.

I am proud to join Senator Murray and our colleagues in this effort to pass the Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act to ensure doctors can provide the reproductive health care women need.

Abortion access is essential health care.

I’ve seen firsthand the incredible work that providers in California do to provide critical reproductive care. Most recently, I visited a Planned Parenthood site in Los Angeles.

We are already starting to see a chilling effect among health care providers driven by the uncertainty about their legal liability.

Like the alarming lawsuit filed against the provider in Indiana who legally helped a 10-year-old-rape victim terminate her unwanted pregnancy.

We must make it clear for health care providers that abortion restrictions cannot be allowed to reach beyond the borders of anti-abortion states.

The decision of whether to have a child is one of the most personal choices that anyone can make.

For the students who choose to finish high school before starting a family.

For the survivors of sexual assault, whose abortion reaffirms their right to choose for their own bodies.

For the parents who desperately wanted a child, only to learn devastating news about dangerous health risks.

For patients whose lives were saved by their abortion—because abortion is often critical medical care.

Access to abortion should not be dictated by politicians and lawyers.

California and many other states across the country refuse to turn the clock back to an era when abortions were outlawed and dangerous.

And as we saw last night in Kansas, the majority of Americans agree that women should have access to abortion care.

We must pass the Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act to protect the courageous women and men delivering essential medical care to those who need it.

While Republicans continue to block our efforts to protect reproductive rights, Democrats won’t back down.

In the face of unending attacks on reproductive freedom, we will not give up the fight to protect a woman’s right to safe abortion access.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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