Rep. Chu Blasts Supreme Court Emergency Abortion Care Decision

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Supreme Court sent the consolidated cases Idaho v. United States and Moyle v. United States back to the lower courts without a decision on the merits of the case.

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), author of the Women’s Health Protection Act, released the following statement:

“On substance, today’s order to send the case back to lower courts should not be interpreted as validating patients’ right to undergo emergency abortions to protect their health and save their lives. It is nakedly political calculation to punt on another unpopular, toxic abortion decision until after November’s presidential election. On timing, the Court is running interference for Trump and Republicans before tonight’s debate to help them pretend as if they wouldn’t impose a nationwide ban on abortions—ending emergency abortion care in the process.

“For nearly 40 years, federal law has guaranteed Americans rightfully receive emergency care at hospitals regardless of cost or any other factor. Because of the Supreme Court, for months Idaho women have had to flee the state—sometimes by helicopter—to receive stabilizing abortion care to save their lives. Today is a minor reprieve, but pregnant women and doctors nationwide deserve the certainty of the Court validating emergency abortion care.

“The Supreme Court unleashed trauma and chaos with their Dobbs decision two years ago, leaving a third of women of reproductive age without access to abortion care. This episode underscores once again: to thwart extremists, restore the protections of Roe v. Wade, and allow doctors to provide abortion without political interference, Congress must pass and President Biden must sign into law my Women’s Health Protection Act.”