Norton Statement on Franks Expanding D.C. Abortion Ban Bill to Apply Nationwide

Statement

Congresswoman Eleanor Homes Norton (D-DC) made the following statement regarding the announcement today by Representative Trent Franks (R-AZ) that he would amend his D.C. abortion ban bill (H.R. 1797), scheduled to be marked up next Thursday by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, to apply nationwide.

"As we have always argued, the intent of my anti-choice colleagues in pursuing a D.C.-only abortion ban bill was to use the District of Columbia to get a federal imprimatur in their effort to overturn Roe v. Wade, and they thought they could do so in a stealth way by using the District. However, our efforts, together with our pro-choice allies nationwide, to highlight the nationwide intent and implications of the D.C. bill brought my anti-choice colleagues unwanted national attention, leaving them unable to hide behind the D.C. bill. Senator Mike Lee, the Senate sponsor of the D.C. abortion ban bill said he could not support a nationwide abortion ban bill because, ironically, it would violate "states' rights,' so there could still be a unique threat to the District. With the help of women nationwide, we defeated the D.C. abortion ban bill on the House floor last Congress. Now that the Franks bill will expressly target all U.S. women, we can expect an even stronger national response to this attack on women's health."

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