Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) issued the following statement on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit to block Texas’s abortion ban:

“I applaud the Department of Justice and Attorney General Merrick Garland for acting swiftly against this pernicious threat to women’s reproductive freedom everywhere,” said Congresswoman Ross. “The unprecedented vigilante system authorized under this law is a clear and provocative violation of the constitution. Millions of women in Texas are losing access to vital reproductive health services, and we are already seeing clinics across Texas halt abortion services.

“This abortion ban amounts to nothing more than a shameful attempt to exercise control over women and their constitutionally guaranteed rights. Abortion bans like this will embolden state legislatures across the country if we don’t take immediate action. I was proud to join my colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee in writing to the Department of Justice to request bold action to block this law, and I am grateful that AG Garland has heeded our request. I will continue to work with my colleagues to pass concrete legislation to protect a woman’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom.”

Congresswoman Ross joined House Judiciary Committee Democrats in urging the Attorney General to use the full force of the DOJ to defend women’s constitutional right to reproductive health care.

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