January 22, 2023
RICHMOND, VA – Today, House Democrats gave remarks in commemoration of the 51st Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision which enshrined abortion rights and reproductive freedoms as the law of the land. Delegates Michael Feggans and Holly Seibold delivered powerful statements in memory of the anniversary – noting the crisis women in the Commonwealth and across the nation face since the repeal of Roe almost two years ago with the Dobbs decision.
Speaker Don Scott said, “When the Dobbs decision was decided, Virginians did not falter in protecting abortion access, and we will continue to stand firm in keeping abortion legal for everyone. These are decisions women should have the right to make for themselves – and not have politicians make for them.”
“On a day like today, I think about the millions of women across the nation who no longer have the access to the reproductive freedom that Roe provided,” said House Majority Leader Charniele Herring. “I have spent my career fighting to ensure these freedoms remain intact in the Commonwealth because these are decisions that should be between a woman and her doctor, and no one else.”
“As a third-generation servicemember, I take special pride in honoring anniversaries that celebrate the freedoms we as Americans enjoy. Unfortunately, we’re not able to celebrate that today because we now live in a new reality. One where women, including our servicemembers, are unable to access comprehensive reproductive health care in many states, which can put their lives at risk. Virginians shouldn’t have to settle for a reality where women are not able to make their own health care decisions,” said Delegate Michael Feggans on the House Floor.
Delegate Holly Seibold said in her Floor Speech, “Growing up, my generation had never known anything but reproductive freedom. Instead of a national standard that protects the lives of women and girls, like what I had, my daughter’s generation’s access to healthcare is NOW being decided by politicians – mostly men – in state legislatures across the country. Today, I mourn for women around the country who are living under extreme abortion bans and my heart breaks for the freedom my daughter could lose if we do not continue to fight to protect women’s reproductive freedom in the Commonwealth.”
Delegate Feggans and Delegate Seibold’s remarks can be found in full here and here respectively. Members of the press interested in speaking to a legislator should reach out to Morgan Hopkins at morgan@vahousedems.org.
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