Jacobs on Dobbs v. Jackson: “We cannot let this stand”
Jacobs has filed legislation to protect reproductive health data privacy
Washington, D.C. - Today, the Supreme Court of the United States released their decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, finding there is no constitutional right to an abortion and effectively overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision from 1973.
“This decision is outrageous and has dangerous and far-reaching implications for Americans’ right to privacy and bodily autonomy,” said Congresswoman Jacobs. “We cannot let this stand. Congress needs to codify the right to an abortion, and we need to do everything in our power to immediately protect the individuals at risk in the states where the right to make our own decisions about our own bodies is criminalized.”
On June 16, Jacobs introduced the My Body, My Data Act (H.R. 8111, S. 4434) with Senator Mazie Hirono and Senator Ron Wyden, new legislation to create a new national standard to protect personal reproductive health data, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. Currently, few protections exist to prevent personal reproductive health data or information about people seeking reproductive health services – collected by apps and websites – from being used to target or arrest people in states where abortion is criminalized. By minimizing the personal reproductive health data that is collected and retained, the bill would prevent this information from being disclosed or misused. Jacobs’ legislation was highlighted here in The Washington Post.
Jacobs has been a longtime champion of reproductive health care and reproductive freedom. In September 2021, Jacobs shared her personal experience freezing her eggs and her efforts to expand fertility and reproductive health care as a Member of Congress. She is an original co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade and which the House of Representatives passed last year. 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.
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