Congressman Dan Goldman Defends Right to Travel for Reproductive Health Care
Efforts to Interfere with Women Crossing State Lines for Reproductive Health Care Violate Constitutional Right to Travel
‘Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act’ Would Protect Women from State Level Prosecution
Empowers U.S. Attorney General to Bring Civil Action
Read the Bill Here
Washington, DC – On the first day of Women’s History Month, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) announced he is cosponsoring the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, prohibiting any person acting under state law, including private parties, from punishing Americans traveling for reproductive health care, which is protected by the constitutional right to travel.
“The right to reproductive health care is a fundamental right for women in this country that is under threat from a radical Republican party,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “The latest front of Republican state legislatures’ war on women is to not only strip them of that right in red states, but to also criminalize women who cross state lines for the care they need. This critical piece of legislation will codify the constitutional right to travel for an abortion and empower federal authorities to take civil action against those who are intent on trying to control women’s bodies.”
In overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court has set us on a dangerous path forward that jeopardizes the health and undermines the equality of people across this country. Lawmakers in several states are now threatening to interfere with the constitutional right of Americans to travel freely and voluntarily within the United States for the purpose of obtaining abortion care.
The Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act addresses these efforts to violate the fundamental rights guaranteed to all citizens.
The Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act prohibits any person acting under state law from restricting or impeding 1) a person’s constitutional right to travel across state lines for the purpose of obtaining a lawful abortion; 2) a person or entity’s ability to assist an individual in traveling across state lines for the purpose of obtaining a lawful abortion; and 3) any health care provider in providing or otherwise enabling lawful abortion services in that state.
It also empowers the United States Attorney General to bring a civil action for declaratory and injunctive relief against any person who is in violation of this law, and creates a private right of action for any person harmed by a violation of this law to obtain declaratory and injunctive relief, damages, and attorneys’ fees.
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