Abortion Care Provider to Join Rep. Chu as State of the Union Guest
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) will be joined by Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an Indianapolis-based obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN), as her guest to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address to Congress on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Dr. Bernard has come under repeated attack by various elected officials, public figures, and media outlets after the Indianapolis Star reported initially in July 2022 that she provided medical and reproductive care for a 10-year-old child abuse victim from Ohio in the days following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. According to a recent profile of her in TheNew Yorker, Dr. Bernard is “one of the last abortion doctors in Indiana” today.
“I’m grateful to be joined by Dr. Caitlin Bernard for President Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address to Congress, and we look forward to hearing the President chart a path forward to restore and strengthen reproductive freedoms across the country,” said Rep. Chu. “Through their Dobbs decision, the MAGA Justices on the Supreme Court accelerated the extremist right’s march to undermine all our reproductive freedoms and implement a nationwide abortion ban, but courageous physicians like Dr. Bernard remain on the frontlines of our health care system to provide medical and abortion care to Americans who need it. President Biden, House Democrats, and I stand with Dr. Bernard and the vast majority of Americans in fighting to protect Americans’ reproductive rights, including passing my bill, H.R.12, the Women’s Health Protection Act to provide Americans a right to receive, and doctors a right to provide, abortion care—free from state bans and restrictions that impede access.”
“I am honored to be attending the State of the Union as Representative Chu’s guest,” said Dr. Caitlin Bernard, OBGYN in Indiana and Fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health. “Thanks to her leadership, patients and providers across the country know they have Congressional champions fighting for access to reproductive healthcare. As a trained physician, I have dedicated my life to providing the best care that I can for patients who want and need it. This includes if and when they want to start a family. Patients must be able to make these personal and sometimes complicated decisions and doctors must be able to offer this care without interference from powerful people who are motivated by politics or ideology. We need bold, immediate change to protect and expand access to reproductive care, and I look forward to hearing from President Biden about his plans to take this important action for patients and providers.”
In addition to addressing reproductive freedom, the State of the Union Address will highlight the historic achievements Democrats in Congress and President Biden have delivered to grow and strengthen the middle class, lower consumer costs, make communities safer, and defend our fundamental freedoms.