Abortion rights. Takes me back. With so much freedom. Good evening. Good evening everyone. Please. Thank you. Thank you. Please have a seat. Thank you. Thank you you all. Can we please applaud amanda for her extraordinary [ applause ] toward courage. We who are active in this phrase and movement probably remember amanda was one of the first women during this phrase of this movement to speak publicly about her experience. The courage shes shown continually across the country as she helps people understand the reality of all of this. I met so many women like her in these months and few years that have been so selfless in telling such a personal story in a way to benefit people that may not remain. Amanda, thank you for who you are. Thank you. For you see [ applause ] id like to thank president mackler. Thank you for your leadership of this organize. To the board of directors or emilys list including my sister maya harris. Ill also acknowledge all of the elected officials and members of congress in the room tonight including senatorse and former president ms. Butler. [ applause ] thank you to the members of our administration that are here. So, i must congratulate tonightse. Rising star michigan statener sarah anthony. You will hear from her soon. Rising star rock star. Of course, the we are emily honoree and toward american that gave herself in service in every way senator tammy duck worth. Congratulations, [ applause ] so, for almost four decades emilys list help elect leaders in the fight for reproductive freedom. Today, because of emilys list we have more pro chose women governors than any time in history. We have more prochoice women in the United States congress than in any time in history yes, with the support of emilys list im proud to be the first woman elected Vice President of the United States. Emilys list was built for this moment. Emilys list was built for the moment. This fight for freedom. The fundamental freedom of the woman that makes decisions about her own body and not have her government telling her what a to do. Two weeks ago, last week the United StatesSupreme Court decided to overturn roe v. Wade. That decision was leaked two years ago last week. We remember were we were that the highest court in our land the court of thurgood and rbg would take a constitutional right that had been recognized from the people of america from the women of america. Two years ago, i stood on the stagee of this very gala and sad washington we were feeling that evening. How dear they. How dear they. That evening i made a prediction overturning roe v. Wade would be the opening shot in a full on assault statebystate on reproductive freedom and thats exactly what has happened. Roe was indeed overturned and in states across the nation they have imposed laws to criminalize doctors and punish women. Lawsni threat happening doctors and nurses prison time even for lifer for providing reproductive care. Laws that make no exception for rape and insist. Increst. Trying to revive laws from the 1800s and understand as amanda said who is to blame. Former President Trump did this. Donald trump handpicked three members of the United StatesSupreme Court because he intended for them to overturn roe. As he intended, they did. Many of you may recall i have severed on the Judiciary Committee as a United States senator. I questioned two of those nominees. One of them i asked, im going to quote myself. [ laughter ] can you think of any laws that give the government the power to make decisions about the male body. You probably remember he had no good answer. Now, because of donald trump, more than 20 states have abortion bans. More than 20 trump abortion bans. The most resent, in florida, where another trump abortion ban just went into effect. A ban so extreme that itd appliesor before many women know they are pregnant. By the way, tells us, these extremist dont know how a womans body works or they just dont care. They just dont care. Trump said, he wants to leave abortions up to the state, all right, this is how that works out. Uttoday, one in three women of reproductive age in america lives in a state with a trump abortion ban. Many with no exception for rape or inchris. Ap many of you know i started my career as prosecutor. What you may not know is why. When i was in high school, i learned one of my best friends was being molested by her stepfather. I said, you have to come stay with us. I called my mother at work and my mother said of course she has to come stay with us. The idea that someone who survived a crime of violence to their body. A violation of their body, would not haveor the authority an ability to make a decision what happens to their body next, thats immoral. Thats immoral. I know we all agree. Esone doesnt have to abandon their faith or deeply held belief to agree the government shouldnt be telling her what to do with her body. [ applause ] ] let us understand the impact, then, of the ban. The horrific reality that women are facing in our country every single day. Women like amanda. Whose lyes and health have been put at risk after being denied medical care. Women as a result are losing access to basic healthcare in clinics across the country. You know, im proud to be the first Vice President in history to visit a reproductive healthst clinic. We all know, these clinics provide critical services. Breast cancerr screenings, conto septemberive care, paps. However,iv around our country where there are trump abortion bans we are seeing these clinics being forced to close. Denying millions of women to mid care. G millions of women to mid be clear, donald trump is the architect of this cray hi crisis. This is not a fact he tries to hide. Enfact, he brags about it. Bo he has said, the collection of abortion bans in the states is quote, working the way its suppose to. Last week, he said in an intervieww states have the right to monitor women to indivorce the bans. The right to punish women for seeking out abortion care. So, emilys list, the contrast in this election could not be more clear. Donald trump has said the goment should decide whether women cans access abortion care. We say, the government should never come between a woman and her doctor as much harm has hes caused a second trump term would be worst. Co his friends are trying to pass a National Abortion ban. A national ban, lets be clear, outlaw abortion in every single state. States like new york and cadillacs. Now california. He would like us to believer he doesnt want this ban. We all know, if donald trump gets the chance he will sign a National Abortion ban. How do we know . Says the former courtroom trial lawyer, lets follow the facts. Congress tried to pass a National Abortion ban in 2017, remember. Er the then President Trump endorsed it. He promised to sign it if it got to his desk. In an interview last week, he seemed perfectly fine with a national ban that would make ivf illegal across the country. Well, the great maya angelu once said, when someone tells you who they are, believe them the first time. Donald trump has told us who he is. L this is what a second term would look like. More bans and less freedom. Plus we are not going to let that happen. [ applause ] we trust women to know whats in their own best interest. Emilys list women trust us to fight and protect their most fundamental freedom. For nearly 40 years you have upheld a Single Mission to help elect pro chose women. Today i. Say to everyone here. As emily list family we need you now more than ever. This november reproductives freedom is ontheball lot. You, us collectively have the power to protect those rights. S. Its your power that will help us win a prochoice majority in the United States house of representatives. Its your power that will help us n the United States senate. Its your power that will send joe biden and me back to the white house. When Congress Passes a law that restores the reproductive freedoms of roe. Our President Joe Biden will sign it into law. Just watch, donald trump was the one who ended roe v. Wade. Joe biden will be the one that restores it. Emilys list, thank you for all ofe. Your work. Lets not be deterred. Momentum isme on our side. Since row was overturned every timeve reproductive freedom was ontheball lot the people of america voted for freedom from kansas, california kentucky, the people have voted for freedom. Not be a little but overwhelming majority. Proving also, that this is not a partisan issue. Proving this is not a partisan issue. Proving that the voice of the peopleth has been heard by overwhelming margins. Its the voice of the people will be heard. So, today i ask, emilys list, are you ready to have your voices heard. [ cheering and applause ] do we trust women in [ cheering and applause ] do we believe in reproductive freedom . Do we believe in the promise of america. [ cheering and applause ] o are we ready to fight for it . When we fight, we win. God bless you and god bless the United States of america. God bless you. [ music ] they do this. Not to the underground railroad. Not by hiding and traditionalling but the full night of day. Allen was master and william was the role of slave. That story gripped me from the beginning. The book master slave, husband wife sunday night on cspans q and a. Listen on our free cspan now app