House Passes Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA)

On Friday, September 24th, the U.S. House of Representatives Passed, the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), H.R. 3755, Protecting Abortion Access on a National Level.

WHPA gives the Right for People across the U.S. to Access Abortion and Enables Healthcare Providers, to provide Abortion without Bans or other Medically Unnecessary Restrictions. The Bill Passed by a 218-211 Vote.

In 2021, States have introduced 600 Abortion Restrictions this year, and 90 of those Restrictions have Passed.

Unfortunately, the Harm of these Restrictions is Not felt Equally: well-off People will always be able to Travel Out-of-State to access Abortion Care, but Black and Brown People, Low-Income People, Young People, and the LGBTQ+ Community Disproportionately experience the Effects of Restrictive Reproductive Health Legislation.

The Passage of WHPA also comes ahead of the Supreme Court’s consideration of a Case concerning a Mississippi Abortion Law that will serve as a Direct Challenge to Roe v. Wade.

Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, was a Landmark Decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, in which the Court Ruled, that the Constitution of the United States Protects a Pregnant Woman's Liberty to Choose to have an Abortion without Excessive Government Restriction. It Struck Down many U.S. Federal and State Abortion Laws, and prompted an ongoing National Debate in the United States about: whether and to what Extent Abortion should be Legal; who should decide the Legality of Abortion; what methods the Supreme Court should use in Constitutional Adjudication; and what the Role of Religious and Moral views in the Political sphere should be. Interpretations of the word ‘Viability’ have varied between Fetal weights of 400 g about 20 weeks, and 1,000 g about 28 weeks.

This Case marks the First time that the Supreme Court will Rule on the Constitutionality of Pre-Viability Abortion Bans since the Passage of Roe v. Wade.

Advocates and Leaders in the Fields of Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice, have been working tirelessly to Pass Protective Legislation like the Women’s Health Protection Act, which was First introduced in 2013.

Population Institute is part of a Coalition of more than 100 Organizations dedicated to the Passage of WHPA.

Population Institute’s President and CEO, Kathleen Mogelgaard, said of the recent House Bill: “For too long, states have been restricting access to abortion care. Right now, abortion is a right in name only for far too many Americans. The House passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act is an important step in ensuring that no matter where you live, you are able to access affordable abortion care. The fight now moves on to the Senate, and we will not stop fighting until full bodily autonomy is the reality for all.”










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker