Republican congressmen attack abortion rights 1:15
(CNN) -
President Joe Biden on Wednesday criticized the Texas state law that prohibits abortion from the sixth week of pregnancy as "extreme" and said it "flagrantly violates" a woman's constitutional right to abort, as stated in the historic decision of the Supreme Court in the case
Roe v.
Wade
.
"Texas SB8 went into effect today. This extreme Texas law blatantly violates the constitutional law established in Roe v. Wade and held as precedent for nearly half a century," Biden said in a statement.
Abortion: Poorer Americans Could See Bigger Impact from Reversing Roe vs.
Wade
The President continued: "Texas law will significantly harm women's access to the health care they need, especially for communities of color and people with low incomes. And, regrettably, it empowers private citizens to bring lawsuits against anyone. who believe that they have assisted another person with an abortion, which may include family members, health workers, reception staff at a health care clinic, or strangers with no connection to the individual. "
Guide to Understanding Abortion Law in the US 4:31
Biden said his administration was "deeply committed" to women's right to abortion and that his administration would "protect and defend that right."
Texas 6-Week Abortion Ban Goes Into Effect After Supreme Court Inaction
Texas law prohibits abortion providers from performing abortions once the fetal heartbeat is detected, which is around six weeks into the pregnancy and before some women even know they are pregnant.
Opponents of the law claim that it will, in fact, ban at least 85% of requested abortions in the state.
The measure was signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in May and took effect early Wednesday, after the Supreme Court and a federal appeals court ruled on attempts to block it.
Without permission he changed his speech to talk about this 2:00
Instead of imposing a criminal or regulatory punishment on those who perform abortions after that point in the pregnancy, this law creates a "private right of action" to enforce the restriction.
This means that private citizens can bring civil litigation with a threat of US $ 10,000 or more in damages against providers or anyone who has helped a woman access an abortion after six weeks.
advertising
The responses of Amy Coney Barrett and other US Supreme Court candidates on Roe v.
Wade
The law was passed earlier this year amid several measures to restrict the right to abortion that were passed by Republican legislatures across the country.
These restrictions came after Justice Amy Coney Barrett, nominated by former President Donald Trump following the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, joined the Supreme Court.
Barrett's confirmation consolidated the conservative majority of the high court and made it more likely that he would reduce or reverse Roe v.
Wade.
- CNN's Tierney Sneed and Betsy Klein contributed to this report.
Abortion
