WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement one year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade:

“Women across the nation should have the ability to make personal medical decisions without the input or permission of government officials. Yet, one year ago today, the Supreme Court majority rejected this fundamental right—after nearly fifty years of precedent—in favor of its own political and religious agenda, and opened the door to continued attacks reproductive rights nationwide,” said Senator King. “On the anniversary of this ruling, let us recommit ourselves to protecting the individual rights and freedoms of all Americans that our nation guarantees. Let us remember the intentions of our founding fathers who sought to ‘secure the Blessings of Liberty.’ And let us work together, in bipartisan fashion, towards this noble vision by codifying federal access to reproductive care while putting party, politics, and religion aside for the health and safety of everyone across our great country.”

Senator King has been a strong supporter of a woman’s right to reproductive healthcare. King voted against Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett who ruled against the protections of Roe. In his reasoning for voting against each, King specifically noted their likely hostility towards the precedent of Roe and unwillingness to answer clear questions on the landmark ruling.   

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Senator Kingcalled it “a dangerous, blatantly political ruling that will rob millions of women the fundamental right to make decisions about their own health, safety, and lives.” Senator King joined 252 Members of Congress in urging the Supreme Court to keep Mifepristone available after rulings in the case of Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA temporarily suspended access. He has since supported legislation that would allow American women to maintain access to medication abortions where currently available and is working on the Senate Armed Services Committee to protect access to reproductive care for women in the military.

Prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling, King voted to advance the Women’s Health Protection Act, legislation which would codify the longstanding precedent of Roe v. Wade into federal law and protect the right to these vital healthcare decisions.

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