Congresswoman Sara Jacobs Presides over the House Floor During Passage of the Right to Contraception Act
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-53) presided over the House Floor today during the passage of H.R. 8373, the Right to Contraception Act. Congresswoman Jacobs is a co-lead of the legislation that – in response to Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly calling for reconsideration of long-standing precedents like Griswold v. Connecticut – would codify access to contraception into federal law.
Watch Rep. Sara Jacobs’ Floor Speech Here
Watch Rep. Sara Jacobs Preside over the House Floor Here
During the debate of H.R. 8373, Congresswoman Jacobs said:
“Thank you Mr. Chairman for making sure this bill could come to the floor so swiftly. Thank you to my friend, Congresswoman Manning, for your partnership on co-leading this bill with me. And thank you to Speaker Pelosi for her continued leadership in this post-Roe reality.
“Madam Speaker, this bill could not be more important because for me and for tens of millions of Americans, these threats from Justice Thomas and the Supreme Court to take away our right to contraception are not abstract.
“I’ve lived my entire life with this constitutional right to contraception – and it’s a right I’ve exercised for decades – whether it was the birth control pills I used when I was a teenager to address debilitating cramps, the IUD I’ve relied on for years, or the Plan B I’ve used at times that was thankfully available over the counter when I needed it.
“I’m probably the first person ever to speak about using Plan B on the House Floor, and I know I’m the first person in at least 35 years to talk about my period here, but you know what, we should be talking about it. We should be talking about periods and birth control and the health care that millions of Americans need for our everyday lives. Because this is not a side issue that only affects some people. This is a kitchen table issue.
“The decisions of how and if and when to grow a family are decisions that are personal and private and should never be decided by the Supreme Court or Congress. It’s a decision that is fundamental to our autonomy, our agency, and our ability to control our own lives.
“As a young woman, reproductive health care is my health care. And I’m so grateful that today we will take a step to codify that access into law.
“I urge my colleagues to support this bill. And I yield back.”
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs has been a tireless advocate for reproductive rights throughout her first term in Congress. In addition to co-leading H.R. 8373 and being an original cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, the Congresswoman introduced the My Body, My Data Act (H.R. 8111, S. 4434) with Senator Mazie Hirono and Senator Ron Wyden, which would create a new national standard to protect personal reproductive health data. She is also a co-sponsor of the Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act, legislation to expand insurance coverage for the full range of reproductive and fertility health care. Congresswoman Jacobs has publicly shared her personal experience freezing her eggs and about her efforts to expand fertility and reproductive health care.
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