Two Years After the Fall of Roe, Davids Champions Reproductive Freedoms, Demands Action
Today, two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Representative Sharice Davids hosted Planned Parenthood Great Plains leaders, health care providers, and other Kansans to discuss the importance of protecting reproductive rights in Kansas. During a press conference, Davids made clear that personal health care decisions should stay between a patient and their doctor — not politicians — and called on U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Johnson to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would guarantee abortion access across the country. A link to Davids’ remarks can be found here.
Despite Kansans’ strong support of reproductive freedoms, extremists at the Kansas state level have recently doubled down on their quest to restrict reproductive health care access in 2024. Also, this month, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering two reproductive rights cases that could vastly impact access throughout the country. One decision was released earlier this month, and another is expected in the coming weeks.
“As Kansans have made clear time and time again, a patient’s health care decisions should be between them and their doctor — not politicians,” said Davids. “We are facing extremist actors, including in Kansas, who will not stop attempting to insert themselves into our most private health care decisions. While they try to strip Kansans of their rights, I'll continue fighting to protect them by working to make Roe permanent.”
"Since Dobbs, it has been worse than we feared: patients scrambling to access too few appointments and providers unable to offer the standard of care because of non-medical restrictions and outright bans that tie their hands," said Emily Wales, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes. "Even here in Kansas, where voters overwhelmingly chose to protect abortion rights, anti-abortion politicians persist in attempts to limit care and traumatize patients. We are deeply grateful for elected officials like Rep. Sharice Davids, who listens to constituents, value expert medical providers, and understand the government has no role in interfering in the medical care of patients."
“Walking patients in and out of the health centers, I see the fear and uncertainty in their eyes. It’s crucial we protect their right to make private health care decisions without interference,” said Dre' McIntosh, patient ally for Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes. “Could you imagine needing a volunteer to walk you up to the dentist office, or to the front door of a pharmacy, because you were afraid someone might harass you for getting your teeth cleaned or needing your prescription? I've been doing this work for a while now, and I know how essential it is to have allies like Representative Davids fighting alongside us to ensure safe and legal access to reproductive health care.”
“As a health care provider, I see firsthand the importance of ensuring that medical decisions remain between patients and their doctors. The recent and ongoing efforts to restrict reproductive health care in Kansas are deeply concerning and pose significant risks to the well-being of our community," said Dr. Selina Sandoval, Associate Medical Director, Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. "I join Representative Davids and Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes in standing up against these dangerous policies. We must continue to prioritize the health and autonomy of our patients, and I am committed to advocating for reproductive rights and access to comprehensive health care for all Kansans.”
At today’s event, Planned Parenthood Great Plains leaders led Davids on a tour of their Overland Park facility. Davids then hosted a roundtable conversation with Emily Wales, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains; Dr. Selina Sandoval, Associate Medical Director of Planned Parenthood Great Plains; and Dre McIntosh, a patient ally for Planned Parenthood of Great Plains. Davids and other participants then spoke at a press conference highlighting the importance of fighting back against extreme attempts to limit access to reproductive health care.
Davids, a proud member of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, has been a champion for increased access to reproductive and sexual health care. Earlier this year, she offered the official motion to prevent a vote on a restrictive reproductive health care bill and voted twice to protect access to choice. She also introduced legislation to increase access to birth control and other reproductive health care services and joined 240 Members of Congress to file an amicus brief to keep mifepristone, a safe and effective medication used by millions of women, on the market.